OBJECTIVEDepression in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with long-term complications, disability, and early mortality. No studies have systematically examined the length of episodes and remission in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and T2D. This study examined the course of depressive disorders in patients with T2D and MDD.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSParticipants (N = 50) enrolled in a behavioral intervention for adults with T2D and MDD were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR to assess history of depressive disorders at baseline (lifetime history), postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. Onset and remission dates were recorded for all Axis I depressive disorders from birth to final interview.RESULTSAverage number of MDD episodes was 1.8 with a mean duration of 23.4 months (SD 31.9; range 0.5–231.3). Over the life course, mean exposure to MDD was 43.1 months (SD 46.5; range 0.5–231.3). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis indicated median episode duration decreased with subsequent episodes (14 months, first episode; 9 months, second episode; P < 0.002). In patients with multiple depressive episodes, recovery time was shorter with each subsequent episode (P = 0.002). No differences in length of episode or remission were observed based on chronology of T2D diagnosis.CONCLUSIONSThe overall exposure to depression in this sample of adults with T2D represents a substantial period of time that can contribute to negative medical and psychiatric outcomes. Recurrent episodes decrease in duration as do recovery periods, resulting in a waxing and waning pattern. Findings from this study underscore the need to effectively diagnose and treat depression in patients with T2D to minimize risk of future depressive episodes.

Objective The 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a measure that is routinely used to assess a response to treatment for cardiopulmonary diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and congestive heart failure. The measure has never been verified as a valid measure of exercise capacity in the highly prevalent patient population of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study investigated the correlation between the 6MWT and graded exercise testing (GXT) in an effort to validate the 6MWT as a quality tool for assessing exercise capacity in adults with T2DM. Research Design and Method This is a secondary data analysis of Program ACTIVE II, a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of two behavioral interventions on depression and glycemic outcomes in adults with T2DM. The correlation of 6MWT and predicted VO2 max (PVO2M) using GXT was examined in a subsample of participants at the time of study enrollment and at post-intervention. Results PVO2M showed a significant correlation with 6MWT distance both at baseline (r=0.57, p=0.014) and post-intervention (r = 0.66, p = 0.037). The regression analysis of baseline data revealed that 6MWT distance alone explained 45% (F = 13.03, p = .0024) of the variability in PVO2M. When combined with the SF-12 physical health component score (PCS), 6MWT explained 66% (F = 13.62, p < .001) of the variance in PVO2M. After adjusting for PCS, 6MWT distance explained an additional 30% variability in PVO2M. Conclusions Findings from this study indicate that the 6MWT and predicted exercise capacity are significantly correlated. The 6MWT can be used to estimate exercise capacity in adults with T2DM.