Feasibility and acceptability of a two-phase survey for estimating the prevalence of mental disorders in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Background: We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of conducting an epidemiological survey to estimate the distribution of mental disorders in a sample of adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D).

Methods: Eligible participants were adults with T1D recruited from four general practices in southeast England. Phase 1 included screening measures for mental disorders in the DSM-5. Participants at phase 1 were invited to a structured clinical interview for DSM-5 at phase 2. Feasibility parameters included the proportions of those identified as eligible, consenting, and completing either or both phases, and acceptability.

Results: The study population comprised 146 adults with T1D. 72% (n = 105) had correct contact details, were eligible and invited. 52% (n = 55) completed phase 1, of which 45% (n = 25) completed phase 2. Some measures had high rates of missing values and three mental disorders had concordant phase 1-2 pairs, namely schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, depressive disorders, and substance-related and addictive disorders.

Conclusions: Conducting a two-phase survey of mental disorders in people with T1D is feasible and acceptable and can be improved using methods to update current contact details; adding secondary care diabetes services (hospitals) as recruitment sites; reducing the screening measures; and omitting diagnostic interviews for those mental disorders already listed in routine medical records.