According to a new study published in Diabetes Care, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) may be an effective intervention for medication adherence, depressive symptoms, and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes and depression. In the current study, 87 adults with unipolar depression and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) (medication adherence, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and lifestyle counseling) or ETAU plus 9 to 11 sessions of CBT for adherence and depression (CBT-AD). At four months, immediately following treatment, the CBT-AD group showed greater improvements in medication adherence, depressive symptoms, and glycemic control than the ETAU group. At 8- and 12-month follow ups, CBT-AD remained superior to ETAU on adherence and glycemic control. There was no between group difference on depression, though some evidence of continued improvement was noted for both groups. These findings suggest that CBT is an effective intervention for medication adherence, glycemic control, and depression with lasting benefits for self-management and control among patients with type 2 diabetes and depression.
Safren, S. A., Gonzalez, J. S., Wexler, D. J., Psaros, C., Delahanty, L. M., Blashill, A. J., Margolina, A. I., … Cagliero, E. (January 01, 2014). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adherence and Depression (CBT-AD) in Patients With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 37, 3, 625-33.