The psychosocial problem areas, needs and resources in people with coexisting schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes. Design and results of a survey study

AIM: To explore the illness and treatment burden, mental well-being, and received support for illness management among people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 62 Danish adults recruited from psychiatric outpatient clinics participated in this cross-sectional study using a questionnaire compiled for this specific purpose. The questionnaire included measures of burden of illness and treatment (daily impact of diabetes and schizophrenia, treatment burden, diabetes empowerment), mental well-being (general well-being and diabetes distress), and social relations and support (general and illness-specific support). Descriptive analyses of survey data were conducted.

RESULTS: Participants reported daily negative impact from living with schizophrenia and diabetes on their physical health, emotional well-being, sleep, and feelings about their future. However, this negative impact was higher from schizophrenia than type 2 diabetes. 55% of all participants reported high treatment burden, and 74% reported low to moderate diabetes empowerment. Approximately 30% reported high levels of diabetes distress, and 49% reported low general well-being. The support for schizophrenia mainly came from mental health professionals, care coordinators, and family and friends, while diabetes support mainly came from general practitioners and family and friends.

CONCLUSIONS: Living with coexisting schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes often involves a high burden of illness and treatment, low diabetes empowerment, high diabetes distress and low general well-being. This study highlights a need for engaging mental health professionals, care coordinators, family and friends in the daily management of coexisting schizophrenia and diabetes in future interventional studies and clinical practice.