Association between emotional and behavioral problems and metabolic control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes

Objective: We aimed to investigate the differences in emotional and behavioral problems and to explore the association between the level of psychiatric problems and the metabolic control in Type 1 diabetes. Methods: The children with Type 1 diabetes (no.=42) and the "healthy" control group (no.=42), their parents and endocrinology specialist completed the forms prepared for the study. The parents completed the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL/4-18). Results: The groups had significant differences in CBCL-activities (p<0.001), social competence (p<0.001), total competences (p<0.001), withdrawal (p=0.036), anxiety/depression (p=0.033), social problems (p=0.009), and aggressive behavior (p=0.04) scores. We did not find significant differences in CBCL scores between the groups with good, moderate and bad metabolic control (p>0.05). Discussion: The parents of children with Type 1 diabetes reported emotional and behavioral problems significantly more. We did not find any significant association between the level of metabolic control and the emotional and behavioral problems. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 32: 325-329, 2009) (C)2009, Editrice Kurtis