Follow-Up Two Years After Diagnosis of Diabetes in Patients With Psychosocial Problems Receiving an Intervention by a Medical Social Worker

We followed up the psychosocial situation two years after diabetes diagnosis in patients (n = 82) aged 18-65 years, with psychosocial problems (PSP; n = 27) or not (NPSP; n = 55). We used a social questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC), and the General Coping Questionnaire (GCQ). The PSP group had a more difficult situation with more strained economy, lower social support, more anxiety and depression, and lower SOC on both occasions. Being in the PSP group predicted experiencing a strong negative influence of the disease at follow-up. Regarding coping strategies, problem focusing decreased in both PSP and NPSP over time. Social trust and intrusion decreased only in NPSP. Otherwise the coping pattern was unchanged, with PSP showing lower scores on self-trust and minimization and higher scores on protest, isolation, and intrusion. The most influenced areas at follow-up in the PSP group were work, relationship to partner and economy, and in the NPSP leisure-time activities, sexual life and work. Our findings underline the need to identify patients with psychosocial problems early.