Individual psychotherapy and intensified education in the habilitation of diabetic children. A comparative study

Abstract

In this investigation an attempt was made to assess the benefit of individual supportive psychotherapy in the habilitation of diabetes mellitus. Thirty-five children aged 10-15 years who had had diabetes mellitus for at least one year were admitted for 6 weeks to a child psychiatric ward, where they participated in an intensified education programme concerning diabetes. Every second patient additionally to the milieu-therapy and education programme provided in the ward got individually supportive therapy. After the stay in the hospital the patient attended the Diabetes Clinic at intervals of three months. Follow-up investigations were made half a year and one year after hospitalization.

No obvious differences in the balance of diabetes were seen between the two groups. In the psychological tests the effect of therapy was seen in a slight better motivation for the independent management of the diabetes. The greatest benefit of the psychotherapy was, however, in the patients' ability to master depressive and anxiety symptoms. □ Diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents, habilitation, psychotherapy.