Fears, Depression, and Anxieties of Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy and Implications for Education and Treatment

Bloom, Jeffrey M. DO
Mason, John O. III MD
Mason, Lauren MBA
Swain, Thomas A. PhD

¹Retina Consultants of Alabama, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

Jeffrey M. Bloom, DO, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. Email: [email protected]

Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases 4(6):p 484-489, November/December 2020. | DOI: 10.1177/2474126420936118

Objective:

This study investigates undiagnosed depression and anxiety related to diabetes in patients with diabetic retinopathy and identifies commonly feared complications that these patients experience.

Methods:

The 74 consecutive individuals with diabetes were recruited for this investigation from the office of a retina specialist, and data were obtained from the participants through a self-report survey given to the patients before their appointment.

Results:

The most feared complication reported by patients surveyed was blindness (38.36%). When asked about depression and anxiety related to their diabetes, 20.27% of patients stated they have depression related to their diabetes, whereas 18.92% had anxiety related to their diabetes. Only 17.57% of the patients said they were being treated for their depression and/or anxiety at the time of the survey.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that many patients with diabetic retinopathy have coexisting fears and mental health concerns. Because most retina specialists treat a high number of patients with diabetes, it is crucial to understand the barriers and comorbidities related to this patient population. Retina specialists may play a role in identifying the hidden and underlying fears, depression, and anxieties in patients with diabetes so that these patients can get the necessary help and counseling they need.