Via practica 4/2021

Diabesity and mental disorders

Diabesity represents one of the global health epidemics of the 21st century. It´s comorbidity with mental disorders is considerable – affective and anxiety disorders are half as frequently in people with diabesity, diabesity is a risk factor for the beginning and development of dementias, in mentally ill diabesity occurs half as frequently as in the general population. Between diabesity and mental disorders exists a mutual bidirectional relationship, on which participate psychological, social and neurobiological factors. Comorbidity of diabesity with any mental disorder multiplicates medical, social and also economic burden of individual diseases. Furthermore, it can considerably negatively affect the prognosis of both disorders. Detailed analysis of comorbidity of diabesity and mental disorders is necessary, in order to develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Psychiatrist must bear in mind, that in chronic mental disorders and their treatment it is essential to follow up the metabolic condition of the patient, non-psychiatrist on the other hand has to bear in mind, that during the treatment of diabesity patient it is necessary to follow up his mental condition and in the case of appearance of mental disorder involve the psychiatrist or psychologist to the treatment. The ideal resolution for the patients with such comorbidity would be the care provided by multidisciplinary team with the contribution of all the concerned specialists.

Keywords: diabesity, mental disorders, comorbidity, psychoreactive factors, neurobiological factors