Incidence of depression in diabetic patients with lower extremity wounds utilizing the PHQ-9

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of depression in diabetic patients with lower extremity complications and to introduce the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) to health care providers involved in care of patients with diabetes and lower extremity wounds. METHODS: As part of an observational trial for diabetic patients, subjects with and without diabetic lower extremity ulceration will complete the PHQ-9. This questionnaire is a 9 item summed scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 27. All patients will require completion of the questionnaire prior to clinical evaluation. All wound care will follow standard protocol of debridement, offloading and moist wound care. AIM 1: To propose that diabetic patients with lower extremity wounds will have an increased PHQ-9 score, as compared to patients without wounds AIM 2: To introduce the PHQ-9 to podiatric physicians and other wound care specialists in efforts to identify depression and eliminate the associated negative effects on wound healing. CONCLUSION: There is currently a substantial amount of literature available on the association of depression and poor wound healing. Conversely, there is minimal literature on the utilization of PHQ-9 as an additional tool to identify depression in these at risk patients. The goal of this research is to correlate the incidence of depression in diabetic patients with lower extremity complications, identify depression as a potential barrier to adherence with prescribed wound care protocols, and to introduce the PHQ-9 as an additional simple tool for wound care providers. ( still in progress but will be completed by June 30.)