Depression, health beliefs, and locus of control: Relationship to glycemic control in hispanic and African Americans with diabetes

Diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Depression is more common among patients with diabetes when compared to patients without diabetes. We evaluated the relationship between the glycemic control, depression and health beliefs in minority patients with diabetes. Forty of a planned 300 participants were recruited from the King/Drew Medical Center's diabetes clinics. The subjects responded to four questionnaires: the Beck's Depression Inventory, Health Belief Scale, and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control B and C. Laboratory data from the last six months were extracted from the electronic laboratory records and recorded. Definite depression was noted in 30% of our population and probable depression was noted in 15%. Diabetes control was not significantly correlated with depression in our preliminary findings. Trends in our study suggest a higher level of support as measured by the Health Beliefs Scale is associated with a lower likelihood of reporting depression (P=0.08). Also, patients who had higher internal locus of control had higher levels of Hba1 c (P=.08). Our preliminary data support prior reports of the high prevalence of depression among person with diabetes, and suggest social support is inversely related to the prevalence of depression. Definitive recommendations await the completion of study.