Abstract
One hundred sixty-six patients with diabetes mellitus were examined on their depressive state using self-rating depression scale (SDS). Thirty-six percent of patients were recognized as in a state of depression since their SDS points were over and equal to 40. SDS points were not affected by sex, age, duration of disease, body mass index, blood sugar control, blood pressure and treatment modalities. Diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy were more frequent among patients with SDS points more than 40. Retinopathy predominated among patients with SDS points more than 40 twice as many as among patients with SDS points less than 40. Diabetic patients who had a number of complications showed higher SDS points. Bifemelane that was supposed to improve brain metabolism was administered to 19 patients with SDS points more than 40 and other 18 patients were followed without bifemelane. Then SDS tests were repeated 3 months later and compared with previous ones and between groups. Although both groups showed improvement in SDS, it should be taken into account that the group treated with bifemelane had more complications than the group without the drug. Bifemelane definitely lowered SDS in patients with up to 2 complications compared to those without bifemelane. The results suggest that drugs improving brain metabolism can be helpful to depressive state associated with diabetes mellitus.
