The Article in Brief

Does Diabetes Double the Risk of Depression?

Patrick J. O'Connor , and colleagues

Background This study analyzes data on more than 17,000 patients to better understand the relationship between diabetes and depression.

What This Study Found Although patients with diabetes appear to be at higher risk of a depression diagnosis, this may be because they have other medical conditions and/or more contact with the medical care system than patients who do not have diabetes. Data analyses show that patients with diabetes have little or no increased risk of a new depression diagnosis compared with patients without diabetes.

Implications

• A better understanding of the complex relationships between depression and other chronic diseases may eventually lead to more effective care for millions of adults with multiple chronic conditions.