An Integrated Medical-Psychological Approach in the Routine Care of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study to Explore the Clinical and Economic Sustainability of the Healthcare Intervention

Mara Lastretti, Manuela Tomai, Natalia Visalli, Francesco Chiaramonte, Renata Tambelli and Marco Lauriola
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Mara Lastretti: Osservatorio di Psicologia in Cronicità, Ordine Psicologi Lazio, Via del Conservatorio 91, 00186 Rome, Italy
Manuela Tomai: Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, “Sapienza” University Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
Natalia Visalli: UOC Dietologia e Diabetologia ASL Roma1 V.le Angelico 28, 00195 Rome, Italy
Francesco Chiaramonte: UOC Dietologia e Diabetologia ASL Roma1 V.le Angelico 28, 00195 Rome, Italy
Renata Tambelli: Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, “Sapienza” University Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy
Marco Lauriola: Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialisation Processes, “Sapienza” University Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: The economic burden of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a challenge for sustainability. Psychological factors, healthy behaviors, and stressful conditions are predictive and prognostic factors for T2DM. Focusing on psychological factors can reduce costs and help ensure the sustainability of diabetes care. The study aimed to support an integrated medical-psychological approach in the care of patients with T2DM. A group of patients undergoing usual healthcare treatment was compared to patients who received a psychotherapeutic intervention in addition to standard treatment. The study’s outcomes were: physical health (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood lipids, blood pressure); lifestyle (cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, physical activity, body mass index); mental health (anxiety, depression, stress, coping styles, alexithymia, emotion regulation, locus of control); costs (number of referrals to a specialist, standard cost of each visit). We examined the change from baseline to 24-week follow-up. Compared to the Standard Group, the Integrated Group reported a reduction in blood lipids and triglycerides, chronic depressive and anxious mood states, patient emotional coping, and the number of specialist visits and diagnostic tests. Close collaboration between diabetologists and psychologists is feasible, and it is worth considering integrated care as an option to contain and make healthcare spending more sustainable.

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Type 2; sustainability of healthcare interventions; integrated treatment; multidisciplinary team; psychotherapeutic intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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