Assessing the clinical utility of the diabetes eating problem survey‐revised (DEPS‐R) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders are prevalent among adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We examined the clinical utility of the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey‐Revised (DEPS‐R), a brief self‐report questionnaire developed for patients with T1D, to identify at‐risk adolescents. We aimed to determine whether a positive DEPS‐R screen was predictive of a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder as per the DSM‐V. In addition, we assessed whether other variables including psychosocial characteristics and diabetes conflict were associated with an abnormal DEPS‐R screen. METHODS: Cross‐sectional study of 116 T1D adolescents aged 12‐17 years. All participants completed the DEPS‐R screening; both participants and parents completed a questionnaire addressing psychosocial characteristics/conflict around diabetes management. Clinical variables were obtained from participant charts. Differences were examined between positive and negative DEPS‐R groups. Adolescents who screened positive were offered a referral to a specialized eating disorder team for further assessment. RESULTS: From 116 participants (mean age ± SD = 14.6 years ± 1.56), 21% (24/116) scored positive for DEPS‐R More females than males had abnormal DEPS‐R (75% vs 25%, P = 0.001). Those with positive DEPS‐R score had higher HbA1c% (mean = 9.3 ± 1.3 vs 8.3 ± 1.2, P = 0.001). Positive DEPS‐R group had higher conflict score for diabetes management in both parents’ and children's assessments (both ps < 0.001). In regression analysis, being female (OR males = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.010‐0.46, P = 0.006), older (OR = 2.01, 95%CI: 1.16‐3.48, P = 0.040) and > child‐reported conflict (OR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.02‐3.11, P = 0.044) were predictors of an abnormal DEPS‐R score. CONCLUSION: The DEPS‐R score is a useful clinical tool for identifying T1D adolescents at risk for disordered eating behaviour, but has a low positive predictive value (PPV) for identifying adolescents who meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder. Female gender, suboptimal diabetes control and increased conflict in diabetes management are associated with an abnormal DEPS‐R score.