Abstract
Objective: To assess the risk of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts in children with type 1 diabetes and their healthy siblings.
Research Design and Methods: We performed a population-based case cohort study of individuals born in Sweden between 1973 and 2009. Children with type 1 diabetes (n=17,122) and their healthy siblings (n=18,847) were identified and followed until their 18th birthday. Their risk of psychiatric disorders was compared with matched controls.
Results: The risk of psychiatric morbidity in children with type 1 diabetes compared to the general population was tripled within 6 months after the onset of diabetes (hazard ratio, HR 3.0, 95% confidence interval, CI 2.7-3.4) and doubled within the total observation period (HR 2.1, CI 2.0-2.2). An increased risk was noted in suicide attempts (HR 1.7, CI 1.4-2.0) and in most categories of psychiatric disorders. The risk of psychiatric disorders in probands declined from HR 2.7 (CI 2.2-3.3) for those in the cohort born 1973-1986 to 1.9 (CI 1.8-2.0) in those born 1997-2009. The risk for any psychiatric disorders among siblings of patients with type 1 diabetes was estimated to be HR 1.1 (CI 1.0-1.1) and there was no increased risk in any of the specific category of disorders.
Conclusions: Children with type 1 diabetes are at high risk of psychiatric disorders, which seems to be a consequence of the disease rather than due to a common familial etiology. The results support recommendations on comprehensive mental health surveillance in children with type 1 diabetes, especially in recently diagnosed children.
