Psychological Disorders (Anxiety, Nervousness, and Social isolation) Among Diabetic Patients in port Sudan
Psychological Disorders (Anxiety, Nervousness, and Social isolation) Among Diabetic Patients in port Sudan
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Date
2025-04
Authors
Elalim Eltayeb Abdurrahman
Reem Ahmed Abduraheim
Nahla Zain Alabdin Ahmed
Thagib Hassan Gafar
Mohammed Salim Naif
Anas Mohammed Musa
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Publisher
Napata College
Abstract
Background: Diabetes is a common chronic disease characterized by persistent
hyperglycemia. The International Diabetes Federation expects the number of affected
individuals to reach 783 million by 2045. The psychological aspects of diabetes management
are well-documented, particularly in relation to glycemic control and patient outcomes. This
study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological disorders among diabetic patients
in Port Sudan.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetic patients at Ahmed
Hassan Center, Port Sudan. Standardized questionnaires, including the GAD-7 for anxiety
and the UCLA 3-item scale for loneliness, were used. The Pearson chi-square test was
employed to assess associations between variables.
Results: A total of 256 diabetic patients participated in this study, with males comprising
55% of the sample. Of the participants, 28% were aged 41–60 years. The median anxiety
score on the GAD-7 was 11, indicating a significant proportion of patients experienced moderate-to-severe anxiety. Additionally, 53.9% reported experiencing nervousness
sometimes, while 57.4% felt socially isolated, highlighting the prevalence of mental health
concerns in this population. A significant association was found between loneliness and
nervousness (p = 0.001), suggesting that increased loneliness correlates with higher levels of
nervousness. Various sociodemographic factors were also associated with loneliness:
females were more likely to experience loneliness (p = 0.013), whereas being married was
linked to lower levels of loneliness (-0.445, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of integrating psychological care into
routine diabetes management, as poor mental health can exacerbate glycemic control issues,
potentially leading to serious complications.
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Original article