RATIO OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND RELATED RISK FACTORS AMONG SAMPLE OF ADOLESCENT PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE (I) IN BAGHDAD HOSPITALS DURING 2025

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide and is particularly common among adolescents with chronic illnesses such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The psychological burden of T1DM may adversely affect self-care, glycemic control, and overall quality of life. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents with T1DM attending Baghdad hospitals and identify sociodemographic, clinical, and family-related factors associated with depression severity. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between February and July 2025 in four tertiary hospitals in Baghdad. A total of 152 adolescents aged 10–19 years with confirmed T1DM were enrolled using convenience sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews using demographic and clinical questionnaires and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Associations between depression severity and independent variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent, with only 21.1% of participants classified as normal, while 53.3%, 13.8%, and 11.8% had mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. Depression severity was significantly associated with parental age, education, and occupation, family circumstances, residence, income, psychiatric history, patient age, education, academic performance, diabetes duration, treatment adherence, hospitalization, insulin dosing frequency, diabetes-related complications, and comorbid chronic diseases (all p<0.05). Adolescents with diabetes complications and poor treatment adherence had substantially higher rates of severe depression. Conclusion: Depression is highly prevalent among Iraqi adolescents with T1DM and is strongly influenced by sociodemographic, clinical, and family-related factors. Routine mental health screening and integrated psychological support should be incorporated into diabetes care to improve patient outcomes.