Determinants of depression in adolescents with diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the leading causes of chronic disease among adolescents in the United States: The literature shows that co-morbid diabetes and depression drive poor health outcomes, higher costs of care and increased mortality in adolescents. However, the predictive nature of the relationship between depression and diabetes has yet to be investigated. The aim of the present study was to identify this relationship within the diabetic adolescent population; the implication is that the most appropriate therapy can be identified to effectively address this problem. Data from the California Health Interview Survey (between 2003 and 2007) were analyzed to gain insight into the predictive relationship between diabetes and depression in adolescents in California. The hypothesis that gender is a predictive factor for depression in this population was supported. The results showed that age and physical education were not predictive factors for depression. Practical implications and future directions were discussed.