Dealing With Anxiety: A Cognitive Behavioural Program for Diabetes

Dealing With Anxiety: A Pilot Cognitive Behavioural Program for Diabetic Clinic Outpatient Attendees

This study was designed to assess whether a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) program for diabetes clinic patients was acceptable, improved quality of life and produced measurable change in levels of depression, anxiety and stress.

Having co-morbid anxiety or depression makes it difficult to carry out the activities for diabetes selfcare. Psychological interventions have been shown to result in improvements in HbA1C and depression. Reports on psychosocial outcomes are conflicting and there are no studies of quality of life. Our diabetes outpatient population has a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression compared to the general public and this led to the development of a group CBT intervention designed to reduce anxiety as a co-morbidity of diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consenting attendees of the Hunter Area Diabetes Services RNH Diabetes Outpatient Clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• Accessibility problems including:

  • limited English
  • developmental disability
  • physical immobility
  • geographical distance
  • extreme age/frailty