When we are looking to change our behaviour, we often turn to cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. It has been proven effective in a number of settings, such as the management of pain or treatment of depression or schizophrenia.
Could CBT help people with diabetes to improve their health?
Clinical question:
In people with diabetes, does CBT improve glycaemic control?
The evidence:
The reviewer found eight studies for review, including six randomised trials.
When she combined the results of these studies, she found
no overall statistically significant impact on glycaemic control.
More research, which is more clearly focused and higher quality, is needed to identify possible benefits. More details are needed about the target population and the form of the CBT intervention.
Appraisal hints:
- The literature search may not have been thorough enough to identify all of the relevant studies.
- As the reviewer included both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, it seems almost certain that there were too many differences between the studies to warrant meta-analysis.
- What was the quality of the individual trials? Were they sufficiently powered to address the clinical question?
Reference:
Elliott S. Cognitive behavioural therapy and glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus. Practical Diabetes 2012; 29(2): 67-71