Singh A, Morya AK, Nishant P, Sinha S. Bidirectional link between mood disorders and diabetic retinopathy. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(5): 102540 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i5.102540]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Arvind Kumar Morya, MD, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibi Nagar, Hyderabad 508126, Telangana, India. bulbul.morya@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Psychology, Clinical
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Psychiatry. May 19, 2025; 15(5): 102540 Published online May 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i5.102540
Bidirectional link between mood disorders and diabetic retinopathy
Arshi Singh, Arvind Kumar Morya, Prateek Nishant, Sony Sinha
Arshi Singh, Department of Ophthalmology, Guru Nanak Eye Center, New Delhi 110001, India
Arvind Kumar Morya, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 508126, Telangana, India
Prateek Nishant, Department of Ophthalmology - Refractive Surgery, Uvea and Neuro-Ophthalmology, Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, Saran 841219, Bihar, India
Sony Sinha, Department of Ophthalmology - Vitreo-Retina, Neuro-Ophthalmology and Oculoplasty, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 801507, Bihar, India
Author contributions: Singh A and Morya AK designed the research; Nishant P, Sinha S, and Singh A conducted literature search; Singh A drafted the letter; and all authors reviewed the final submitted version of the manuscript and agree to be held accountable for all aspects of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Arvind Kumar Morya, MD, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibi Nagar, Hyderabad 508126, Telangana, India. bulbul.morya@gmail.com
Received: October 22, 2024 Revised: February 23, 2025 Accepted: March 7, 2025 Published online: May 19, 2025 Processing time: 191 Days and 4 Hours
Abstract
The recently published article by Gao et al identifies risk factors for anxiety and depression in patients with diabetic retinopathy. We supplement that there is pathophysiological evidence to show a complex and possibly bidirectional relation between diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, and mood disorders, especially depression. Longitudinal studies may strengthen proof of a causal relationship between these diseases. A better understanding can help in the holistic management of these patients.
Core Tip: There is a complex relationship between diabetic retinopathy and mood disorders like anxiety and depression. The diseases have a similar interplay of biochemical and physiological changes as discussed further. This may also link the severity and progression of retinopathy to mood disorders. Further research can build on the intersection between the potential molecular mechanisms of mental illness and diabetic retinopathy.
