MedPath

The Influence of Psychobiological Adversity to Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

Completed
Conditions
Stress
Type 1 Diabetes
Interventions
Behavioral: Psychological background determinations
Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination
Procedure: Cortisol release test
Procedure: Saliva cortisol measurement
Registration Number
NCT02575001
Lead Sponsor
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine
Brief Summary

The aims of this study are two fold: To show whether there is an increased environmental or genetic susceptibility to stress in patients with T1D and whether it influences diabetes management. And to develop a strategy for the assessment and treatment of patients with T1D and an increased risk for development of psychopathology under stress.

Detailed Description

Lately, a marked increase in the incidence and earlier age of onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been noted. These observations could also be connected to an increased prevalence of stressful experiences and a lowered stress tolerance in some children.

The way a person responds to stress is determined by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental experiences at specific times of development have been shown to shape individual's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) stress response. It is known, that early development of central nervous system is critically dependent on child's interaction with the environment (experience dependent maturation), especially to the attachment to caregivers (most often the mother). Appropriate caregiving is connected to lower basal cortisol levels in children and a more stable HPA axis response after the exposure to stress. Any circumstances that disturbed the formation of the attachment to the primary caregiver (e.g. complications at delivery, psychosocial stressors affecting the mother or mother's postpartum depression) resulted in higher HPA axis responsiveness to stress in the affected children.

Changes in individual genes have also been shown to influence a person's susceptibility to stress and risk for the development of stress-induced psychopathology.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
207
Inclusion Criteria
  • Informed consent signed by a parent/legal guardian and informed assent signed by the study participant prior study entry
  • Diagnosed with Type 1 DM prior to signature of Patient Informed Consent (PIC) (for the T1D group).
  • Age between 8-15 years old (inclusive) at signature of PIC
  • Treated by the investigator's centre prior signature of PIC (For the T1D group).
  • Willing to undergo all study procedures
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any documented concomitant chronic disease known to affect diabetes control (e.g. altered renal function, active cancer undergoing treatment, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Mb Addison disease)
  • Any other medical, social or psychological condition that, in the investigator's opinion, makes the patient unable to comply with the study protocol (e.g. intellectual disability).

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Type 1 diabetesPsychological background determinationsChildren with Type 1 diabetes, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Cortisol release test, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Type 1 diabetesGenetic susceptibility determinationChildren with Type 1 diabetes, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Cortisol release test, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Type 1 diabetesSaliva cortisol measurementChildren with Type 1 diabetes, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Cortisol release test, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Healthy controlGenetic susceptibility determinationHealthy primary school pupils, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Healthy controlSaliva cortisol measurementHealthy primary school pupils, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Type 1 diabetesCortisol release testChildren with Type 1 diabetes, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Cortisol release test, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Healthy controlPsychological background determinationsHealthy primary school pupils, age from 8 to 15 years. The following interventions/exposures will be administered: Behavioral: Psychological background determinations, Genetic: Genetic susceptibility determination, Procedure/Surgery: Saliva cortisol measurement.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Significant between group differences in metabolic control1 month

Association between psychological scores, stress reactivity, genetic factors and metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Significant differences in psychological scores between groups1 week

Significant differences in psychological scores between the patients with type 1 diabetes and the control group

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine

🇸🇮

Ljubljana, Slovenia

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath