Assessment of the efficacy of a psychological aiming at improving the quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and their families

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a psychological intervention at disease onset in pediatric patients with T1DM and their families. Methods: Two groups of 14 patients matched for age and gender were compared: A (newly diagnosed patients) and B (one year of disease duration). The patients and their families were assessed through questionnaire (CBCL) at the time of the diagnosis (T1) in group A and after one year of disease (T2) in both groups. Since the beginning of disease and the whole first year group A received a psychological support treatment. The distribution of anxiety, somatic and internalization scales of CBCL were compared in groupA at disease onset and after one year and between the two groups at one year of disease duration. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. POSTER TOURS 161 Results: GroupA showed a significant improvement of the anxiety, somatic and internalization scales during the first year of disease. After one year of disease Group A compared to group B showed non statically significant lower anxiety, somatic and internalization score (see table). Conclusions: The study showed that, at the time of the diagnosis and during the first weeks, patients and their families have a lower adjustment due to the traumatic experience of the diagnosis. Over time they seem to better adjust to the situation. The study was however not able to demonstrate a clear effectiveness of the psychological support intervention started at the onset of the disease.