Depressive symptoms and occurrence of type 2 diabetes among Japanese men

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - In 1984, 2,764 male employees of an electrical company in Japan completed a self-administered questionnaire including the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). They were followed for the next 8 years, and 2,380 (86%) responded to the follow-up survey in 1992. During the follow-up survey occurrence of ripe 2 diabetes was diagnosed according to World Health Organisation criteria. RESULTS - A total of 41 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified during the 8-year followup survey. After controlling for other known risk factors for type 2 diabetes, a proportional hazard analysis indicated chat subjects who had moderate or severe levels of depressive symptoms (greater than or equal to 48 on the SDS) at baseline had a 2.3 times higher risk of having type 2 diabetes at the follow-up survey than those who were not depressed (less than or equal to 39 on the SDS) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS - Depressive symptoms may be associated with the onset of ripe 2 diabetes.