Treatment to be trialled for diabetes patients with depression and anxiety

Internet-enabled cognitive behavioural therapy (ie-CBT) player Ieso Digital Health has announced its clinical trial to measure the effects of online, diabetes-focused CBT intervention on the mental health outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Studies have found that mental health issues amongst those diagnosed with diabetes are greater than for those without diabetes, with 25% reported to live with depression and 40% with anxiety. This study aims to help Ieso understand more about whether treating a mental health condition in the context of diabetes has a positive impact on mental wellbeing and subsequently diabetes management for patients.

Ieso’s affiliate BABCP therapists involved in the type 2 diabetes trial have followed a training programme designed to help them adapt CBT to provide more specialist care, while also understanding more about the condition from a patient and clinical perspective. The aim of Ieso’s trial is to ascertain the effects of ie-CBT on two measurable outcomes (using GAD7 and PHQ9). Firstly, does the patient feel less anxious or depressed following a course of treatment and secondly, do they feel less stressed by their diabetes?  

Sarah Bateup, chief clinical officer at Ieso Digital Health, said: “We have found through our extensive experience in treating mental health conditions with CBT, that there is a prevalence of stress, depression and anxiety amongst patients that have also been diagnosed with a long-term, physical condition, such as type 2 diabetes. Although all of our therapists receive thorough training to understand all elements of mental health, it is much more difficult to adapt to patients specific needs unless they know more about the condition and how to adapt in the best way. 

“Rather than simply extend our service with a tailored treatment, we felt it imperative to run a clinical trial first to test the training and understand the treatment benefits patients can expect before offering a full service to our NHS partners.”