PhD student
Nanna Lindekilde
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark
| Project management | ||
| Project status | Sampling ongoing | |
| Data collection dates | ||
| Start | 01.01.2018 | |
| End | 01.01.2023 | |
Do people with mental health problems have an increased risk to develop diabetes mellitus?
Short summary
Psychiatric disorders have in the last decades been documented as risk factors for later incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, which biological and behavioral factors mediate this association? The present project consist of an umbrella review and afterwards longitudinal cohort studies investigating this association and possible mediating mechanisms.
Rationale
Diabetes mellitus is a common condition that affected an estimated number of 422 million people worldwide in 2014. Approximately 90 % of diabetic cases are individuals with type 2 diabetes and multiple risk factors have also shown to have an important role in the development of the disease. Increasing age, obesity, dietary factors and sedentary lifestyle are common known risk factors. Furthermore, mental health problems have been documented as risk factor for later incidence of type 2 diabetes. For example, multiple systematic reviews of longitudinal studies have concluded that depression is associated with an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes. Likewise, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated how respectively anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and schizophrenia are associated with a higher risk to develop type 2 diabetes. The theoretical foundation of the present PhD-project is inspired by the biopsychosocial model. In line with previous research and theoretical understandings, an association between mental health problems and type 2 diabetes mellitus mediated by behavioral factors (e.g. unhealthy eating behaviors, physical inactivity, sleeping problems and smoking behavior), the use of psychotropic medication and biological factors is expected.
The aim of the present project is to test whether people with mental health problems are at increased risk to develop diabetes mellitus later in life. Furthermore, in case of significant associations, the project also aims to determinate potential mechanisms (e.g. behavioral or biological factors) linking mental health problems with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Description of the cohort
A national sample of adult Danish citizens with a psychiatric disorder and no prior diabetes diagnosis at baseline. Furthermore, a matched control group of adult Danish citizens without a psychiatric disorder and no prior diabetes diagnosis at baseline.
Data and biological material
The project is based on register data and data from a national health survey.
Collaborating researchers and departments
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark
- Professor, Frans Pouwer, PhD (mainsupervisor)
STENO Diabetes Center, Odense University Hospital
- Director and Associate Professor, Jan Erik Henriksen, PhD (co-supervisor)
DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region
- Associate professor, Mathias Lasgaard, PhD (co-supervisor)
OPEN, Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital
- Associate professor, Katrine Hass Rubin, PhD (co-supervisor)
Publications associated with the project