Assessment of depressive symptoms in people with diabetes mellitus and foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the intensity of symptoms of depression in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS a exploratory, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was held at the wound clinic of a public hospital in Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Fifty patients with diabetes mellitus and foot ulcers were enrolled. To assess the intensity of the symptoms of depression, a Beck Depression inventory was used. RESULTS Of the 50 patients evaluated, 41 had some degree of depressive symptoms and 32 (64%) had moderate depression, with symptoms of self-loathing, grief, body image distortion and decreased libido. CONCLUSION Patients with diabetic foot ulcers showed varying degrees of depressive symptoms.