Neuropsychological and Behavioral Aspects of Diabetes

Behavioral medicine has blossomed as an area of systematic investiga­ tion during the past 10-20 years. Throughout its steady growth, there have been increasing interest and specialization in the study of neuro­ psychological and behavioral aspects of diabetes. This book attempts to capture and report exciting new developments in the study of both insulin-dependent (Type I) and non-insulin-dependent (Type II) dia­ betes mellitus. Accordingly, it is divided into two major sections. Physiological aspects of each disease, which differ significantly in pathophysiology and course, are discussed in separate medical over­ views that introduce each major section. These overviews are written by Drs. Tsalikian and Zimmerman, leading medical researchers in insulin­ and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, respectively. Each section also contains chapters describing neuropsychological and cognitive disease correlates, psychosocial patterns of adjustment, and treatment adher­ ence issues. Psychological aspects of insulin-dependent diabetes have been studied more extensively than non-insulin-dependent diabetes, perhaps because it is more often associated with graver medical compli­ cations. Therefore, there is a larger body of research to review and the first section has been divided into chapters on cognitive disease se­ quelae in populations of children and adults, separately. In his chapter, Dr. Ryan discusses developmental factors related to the unique sensi­ tivity of the brain to metabolic derangement. Dr. Holmes reviews studies of adults with diabetes and the cognitive correlates of both acute and chronic blood glucose disruption. Developmental disease is­ sues are further covered in Dr.