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Psychosomatic aspects on diabetes and chronic pain Alexithymia, depression and salivary cortisol The Affect School and Script Analysis Therapy

Author

Summary, in English

This thesis explores links between psyche and soma in diabetes and in chronic benign

pain (CBP). Interventions with Affect School and Script Analysis (ASSA) compared to

Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) are tried.

In a feasibility and treatment efficacy study we offered ASSA to 59 patients with CBP,

and 54 (92%) completed. Alexithymia prevalence went from 33% to 11% (p = 0.013),

depression from 59% to 48% (p = 0.18), and anxiety from 78% to 50% (p = 0.002) in

46 respondents, and social relations improved (p <0.001).

We have established a protocol of a treatment efficacy, multicenter, open-labelled,

randomized controlled trial with two intervention arms, ASSA and BBAT. Inclusion

criteria: T1D or T2D; HbA1c ≥62.5 mmol/mol; psychological symptoms; age 18-59

years; diabetes duration ≥1 year. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy; severe somatic or

psychiatric disorder; cognitive deficiency; inadequate knowledge of Swedish. Primary

outcome measure: depression prevalence. Secondary outcome measures: HbA1c,

midnight salivary cortisol (MSC), alexithymia and anxiety prevalence, self-image

measures, diabetes complications and mortality in 6 year follow up.

In a cross sectional study of 292 T1D patients, associations between high HbA1c and

psychological factors, life style factors and obesity were tried. 80 patients (27%) had

HbA1c >70 mmol/mol, which was associated with depression (AOR 4.8), abdominal

obesity (AOR 4.3), and smoking (AOR 3.0). Alexithymia and anxiety were linked with

depression.

In a cross sectional study of 196 T1D patients, associations between high MSC (≥9.3

nmol/L), depression, HbA1c, and intra individual, behavioural and environmental

factors were explored. 34 patients (17%) had MSC ≥9.3 nmol/L, which was associated

with smoking (AOR 5.5), spring season (AOR 4.3), physical inactivity (AOR 3.9),

depression (AOR 3.1), and older age (AOR 1.08; (per year)). HbA1c >70 mmol/mol

(AOR 4.2) and MSC ≥9.3 nmol/L (AOR 4.4) were independently linked with

depression.

Conclusions are that alexithymia was linked with depression, which in sum was

associated with both high HbA1c and high MSC in T1D patients. ASSA showed

reduced alexithymia, anxiety and depression and improved social relations in CBP

patients. ASSA for selected patients with diabetes will be further evaluated in an RCT.

Department/s

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Publication/Series

Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series

Volume

2014:148

Document type

Dissertation

Publisher

Family Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Malmö

Topic

  • Other Clinical Medicine

Keywords

  • depression
  • Alexithymia
  • anxiety
  • chronic benign pain
  • diabetes mellitus
  • midnight salivary cortisol
  • HbA1c
  • RCT
  • Affect School
  • Basic Body Awareness
  • psychosomatics.

Status

Published

Supervisor

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1652-8220
  • ISBN: 978-91-7619-077-7

Defence date

19 December 2014

Defence time

13:00

Defence place

GK-salen BMC, Sölvegatan 19, Lund

Opponent

  • Per Wändell (Professor)