Behavioral Activation Therapy for Both Depression and Diabetes Vs. Diabetes Alone Delivered Via Group Visits

BACKGROUND Nearly 33% of the 24.5 million people in the US with diabetes mellitus (DM) have co-morbid depression. Since 65% of patients with DM die from cardiovascular disease (CVD), concomitant control of CVD risk factors along with glycemic control is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes. However, co-morbid depression makes DM and CVD risk factors harder to control. We demonstrated that a pharmacist-led group visit model consisting of: 1) pharmacotherapy management for DM, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, 2) self-management education, 3) case management and 4) behavioral strategies for DM and CVD self-care behaviors, was more efficacious in improving hyperglycemia and CVD risk factors compared to standard primary care controls in a general DM population and also for patients with DM and co-morbid depression. For participants with DM and depression there was also a non-significant trend toward improvement in depression despite the lack of depression treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to determine whether group visits with added behavioral activation (BA) for depression (cases) will have a greater clinical impact than our standard group visits without BA for depression (active control) in reducing the risk of future coronary events as measured by the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine and depression symptoms as measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) after 6 months.

RESEARCH PLAN/METHODS: The goal is to conduct a randomized-controlled pilot trial (n=25 in each arm) to evaluate the clinical effect of added BA to our group intervention in patients with DM and depression who have a Hemoglobin A1c>=8% and a PHQ-9 depression score >=10 and at least one additional CVD risk factor such as tobacco use, hyperlipidemia or hypertension not at American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association guideline recommended goals. The interventions in both arms will consist of 4 weekly group visits of 2-hour duration followed by monthly booster group visits for 6 months to prevent relapse.

The primary aims are:

• 1) To examine the effects of our group visit model with and without added BA therapy on the 10-year UKPDS coronary event risk, and PHQ-9 depression scores after 6 months
• 2) To examine the acceptability and adherence to our group visit model with and without added BA therapy by way of focus groups and attendance

The secondary aim is

• 1) To explore mediating factors of our group visit model with added BA therapy that are associated with improvement in CVD risk and depression

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
• Clinical diagnosis of depression
• PHQ-9 score ≥10 for depressive symptoms
• >= 18 years old
• a most recent HbA1c ≥8.0% within the previous 12 months in the chart; and
• have 1 or more of the following modifiable CVD risk factors not at target goals, defined as:
• current smoker (any cigarette smoking <30 days),
• blood pressure >130/80 mm Hg, documented at least twice in the last 6 months
• LDL cholesterol >100 mg/dL within the last 12 months.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to attend the group sessions
• active psychosis of any type or organic brain injury that precludes DM self- care
• type 1 diabetes as documented in the medical chart
• pregnancy
• actively suicidal and /or
• end-stage medical illness (e.g. metastatic cancer, awaiting organ transplant)
• Patients currently enrolled in DM group programs that include medication titration within the group setting would not be eligible due to co- intervention.