A new study has found certain stages of diabetic retinopathy causes different levels of depression and anxiety.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne, Australia studied 519 participants with a median duration of diabetes of 13 years, with 15 percent having depressive symptoms and 23 percent anxiety symptoms. They found that severe asymptomatic non-proliferative stage (NPDR) and symptomatic proliferative stage (PDR) symptoms were independently associated with greater depressive symptoms after controlling for various factors, however diabetic macular edema was not associated with depressive symptoms.
The researchers believe the severity and progression of diabetic retinopathy may be a helpful indicator to prompt assessment of psychological well-being, especially in patients with other risk factors.
The study was recently published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
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