Depression influences diabetic foot ulcers
The healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers is affected by patients' coping styles and their levels of depression.
Advertisement
The healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers is affected by patients' coping styles and their levels of depression.
Up to 15 percent of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes develop foot or leg ulcers, which are open sores that form when a minor skin injury fails to heal. To examine the relationship between depression and healing of diabetic foot ulcers, researchers followed 93 American diabetics with foot ulcers and monitored them for 24 weeks. The size of each patient's ulcer was measured initially, and again at 6, 12 and 24 weeks thereafter. The researchers also assessed the participants' levels of psychological distress, coping styles and levels of the stress hormone.
It was found that the foot ulcer was less likely to heal in patients who had a confrontational method of coping (characterised by a desire to take control) with a problem and its treatment. Depression also appeared to have a major effect. Depressed patients showed less improvement or ulcer healing by the end of the 24 weeks.
The study suggests that better coping mechanisms with effective management of depression can improve healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers.
Up to 15 percent of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes develop foot or leg ulcers, which are open sores that form when a minor skin injury fails to heal. To examine the relationship between depression and healing of diabetic foot ulcers, researchers followed 93 American diabetics with foot ulcers and monitored them for 24 weeks. The size of each patient's ulcer was measured initially, and again at 6, 12 and 24 weeks thereafter. The researchers also assessed the participants' levels of psychological distress, coping styles and levels of the stress hormone.
It was found that the foot ulcer was less likely to heal in patients who had a confrontational method of coping (characterised by a desire to take control) with a problem and its treatment. Depression also appeared to have a major effect. Depressed patients showed less improvement or ulcer healing by the end of the 24 weeks.
The study suggests that better coping mechanisms with effective management of depression can improve healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers.
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
Advertisement