The importance of mental health in improving the quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Health problems with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) affect mental, physical, social, cultural and quality of life (QOL). Aim: This study aimed to identify, review, summarise, and evaluate the study design and measurements the most validated commonly used QOL and mental health measurements in patients with T2DM. Materials and Methods: All original articles published on PubMed, MedLine, Web of Science, Scholar google and Scopus databases were systematically reviewed between 2013 and 2023. A search strategy were searched using a Boolean search strategy following keywords: “type 2 diabetes mellitus”, OR “quality of life”, AND mental health”, and “questionnaires for each database. Studies conducted on patients with T2DM of≥18 years with or without other clinical illnesses were included. Articles designed as a literature or systematic review conducted on either children or adolescents, healthy adults and/or with a small sample size were excluded. The validity and reliability of research methods, designs, and tools were compared. Results: A total of 84 articles were identified in all of the electronic medical databases and reviewed 27 free full articles. Approximately, 60% of the quantitative studies were cross-cesional studies, 12.5% were RCT, 21.5% were quasi-experimental research designs, and 6% were cohort studies. Depression and anxiety disorders occur in 80% of patients with T2DM. There is a need for early detection of psychological problems and assessment-based psychotherapeutic methods for individualized patient-centered care in patients with T2MM. In addition, providing accessible care through an interprofessional team (IPT) can improve the control of patients with T2DM and prevent diabetes complications. Findings from some quasi-experimental studies evaluating interventions show that a psychotherapy program based on registered nurses (RNs) is the most cost-effective and to improve the approach to chronic illness in patients with T2DM. Conclusion: In conclusion mental health is important for improving the QOL of patients with T2DM, and early detection of psychological problems and the development and implementation of health education programs for individual learning characteristics and improve treatment satisfaction and QOL.