CJO - Abstract - A detailed profile of cognitive dysfunction and its relation to psychological distress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

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Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (2007), 13 : 288-297 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © 2007 The International Neuropsychological Society
doi:10.1017/S1355617707070312 (About doi)
Published online by Cambridge University Press 02 Feb 2007
 
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (2007), 13:2:288-297 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © 2007 The International Neuropsychological Society
doi:10.1017/S1355617707070312

A detailed profile of cognitive dysfunction and its relation to psychological distress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AUGUSTINA M.A.  BRANDS  a1 a2 a3 c1 , ESTHER  VAN DEN BERG  a1 , SANNE M.  MANSCHOT  a1 , GEERT JAN  BIESSELS  a1 , L. JAAP  KAPPELLE  a1 , EDWARD H.F.  DE HAAN  a1 a3 and ROY P.C.  KESSELS  a1 a4 a5 a
a1 Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
a2 Neuropsychology, Zuwe Hofpoort/Regional Psychiatric Center, Woerden, The Netherlands
a3 Helmholtz Instituut, Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
a4 Departments of Medical Psychology and Geriatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
a5 NICI, Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Article author query
brands ama   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
van den berg e   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
manschot sm   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
biessels gj   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
kappelle lj   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
de haan ehf   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
kessels rpc   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a common metabolic disorder. DM2 is associated with cognitive impairments, and with depressive symptoms, which occur in about one third of patients. In the current study we compared the cognitive profile and psychological well-being of 119 patients with DM2 (mean age: 66 ± 6; mean duration: 9 ± 6 years) with 55 age and education matched-control participants. Groups were compared on cognitive performance in five major cognitive domains, psychological wellbeing [assessed by Symptom Checklist (SCL)-90-R and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)] and abnormalities on brain MRI. We hypothesized an interrelationship between cognition, MRI abnormalities, and psychological well-being. DM2 patients performed significantly worse than controls on cognitive tasks, especially on tasks that required more mental efficiency, although the differences were modest (effect sizes Cohen d < .6). We speculate that DM2 patients have a diminished ability to efficiently process unstructured information. Patients with DM2 had significantly higher scores on the SCL-90-R (p < .001) and on the BDI-II (p < .001) and worse MRI ratings than controls, but psychological distress did not correlate with cognition, MRI ratings or biomedical characteristics. Contrary to our hypothesis, cognitive disturbances and psychological distress thus seem independent symptoms of the same disease. (JINS, 2007, 13, 288–297.)

(Received February 19 2006)
(Revised October 1 2006)
(Accepted October 3 2006)


Key Words: Insulin; Depression; Aging; Brain MRI; Neuropsychological; Assessment.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence and reprint requests to: Augustina M.A. Brands, Neuropsychology, Zuwe Hofpoort, Blekerijlaan 3, 3447 AC Woerden, The Netherlands. E-mail: I.Brands@altrecht.nl (Ineke Brands)

Footnotes

a See Acknowledgments.


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