Depression and Diabetic Neuropathy: A Complex Relationship

In a group of 64 non-insulin-dependent diabetic females, a significant positive correlation between Zung self-rated depression scores and objective measurements of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was limited to those women with Zung scores greater than 50 (depressed group, n = 12). In the overall group, there was no significant linear or quadratic relationship between peripheral neuropathy and depression scores. The associations between depression, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes are discussed.