The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological features of diabetics with severe complications (retinopathy). The subjects were 37 diabetics with proliferative retinopathy (severe diabetics). The control subjects were 25 diabetics without retinopathy (mild diabetics), whose ages and durations of diabetes were matched with the subjects. The Yatabe-Guilford personality test (YG) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to investigate psychological factors. An interview method was used to examine the durations of not attending medical checkups and not observing diet therapy from the onset of diabetes.
The results of the YG test revealed that severe diabetics were emotionally and socially better adjusted than mild diabetics. The STAI showed that severe diabetics were less anxious than mild diabetics. The interview method revealed that the severe diabetics had neglected medical checkups as well as diet longer than the mild diabetics. These results suggested that the severe diabetics, who were less anxious and better adjusted to society, tended to neglect the therapies. Therefore, it is very important for therapists to educate such patients thoroughly in accordance with their psychological status, so that they will observe diet therapy and attend regular medical checkups.