Are children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus prone to psychiatric issues? A cross-sectional comparative study.

BACKGROUND

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common chronic disorder, among the children and adolescents, posing both physical and psychological challenges.

AIMS: To assess and compare the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with T1DM to healthy controls. Secondly, to evaluate differences in emotional and behavioral problems across various sociodemographic and clinical variables within the T1DM group.

METHODS

Children aged 6-18 with T1DM and age-matched controls were assessed using the Child Behavioral Checklist and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Statistical analyses examined associations between emotional and behavioral problems and socio-demographic or clinical factors.

RESULTS

Among 62 cases and 63 controls, T1DM patients showed significantly higher internalizing, externalizing, and total problems (P < 0.05). Psychological issues were linked to factors like celiac disease comorbidity, poor peer adjustment, and temperament. Additionally, higher SDQ scores were observed in cases with more than 2 hours of daily screen time.

CONCLUSION

Those with T1DM experience more emotional and behavioral problems than controls, highlighting the need for psychiatric screening and interventions in T1DM management.