Effectiveness of Biofeedback- Relaxation on Depression, Anxiety and Blood Glucose in Type I Diabetic Patients

Depression and anxiety are affecting factors on increasing blood glucose. Psychological interventions are appropriate and low-cost methods for controlling these factors. This study aimed to assess effectiveness of biofeedback- relaxation on depression, anxiety and blood glucose in type I diabetic patients.

In this study which was quasi-experimental research by using pre-test and post-test with control group, sample group was selected among patients who referred to Kalar Health Center in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Among existing records, 31 male and female patients (25-45 ages) were selected and randomly were assigned to control and experimental groups. The Beck Depression Inventory-II and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to assess depression and anxiety and their HbA1c test results were recorded. After pre-test, experimental group for 8 weeks was treated with biofeedback-relaxation and control group received no intervention. Then both of them were tested by post-test. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and covariance analysis were used for data analysis.

In the post-test, mean of depression of two groups was no significant difference with pre-test (0.805) but mean of state anxiety (p= 0.001), trait anxiety (p= 0.005) and blood glucose (p=0.000) in experimental group decreased significantly.

biofeedback-relaxation techniques reduces anxiety and blood glucose in patients with type I diabetes but has no effect on their depression.