Lin B, Liang W, Xu M, Li DK. Letter to the Editor: Beyond retinal lesions: Social support provides critical protection from psychological distress in patients with diabetic retinopathy. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 118724 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.118724]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dong-Kan Li, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, Xiamen Eye Center and Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, No. 336 Xiahe Road, Xiamen 361000, Fujian Province, China. xmecldk@163.com
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Ophthalmology
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letter
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Lin B, Liang W, Xu M, Li DK. Letter to the Editor: Beyond retinal lesions: Social support provides critical protection from psychological distress in patients with diabetic retinopathy. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 118724 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.118724]
World J Psychiatry. Jul 19, 2026; 16(7): 118724 Published online Jul 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.118724
Letter to the Editor: Beyond retinal lesions: Social support provides critical protection from psychological distress in patients with diabetic retinopathy
Bin Lin, Wei Liang, Meng Xu, Dong-Kan Li
Bin Lin, Wei Liang, Meng Xu, Dong-Kan Li, Department of Ophthalmology, Xiamen Eye Center and Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen 361000, Fujian Province, China
Bin Lin, Wei Liang, Meng Xu, Dong-Kan Li, Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Corneal & Ocular Surface Diseases, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Corneal & Ocular Surface Diseases, Translational Medicine Institute of Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, Fujian Province, China
Co-first authors: Bin Lin and Wei Liang.
Author contributions: Lin B, Liang W, Xu M and Li DK designed the study; Lin B and Liang W conducted literature review and drafted the manuscript and they contribute equally to this study as co-first authors; Xu M assisted with content revision and reference verification; Li DK conceptualized the study, supervised the writing process, and approved the final manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 2024J011323.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this manuscript.
Corresponding author: Dong-Kan Li, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, Xiamen Eye Center and Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, No. 336 Xiahe Road, Xiamen 361000, Fujian Province, China. xmecldk@163.com
Received: January 12, 2026 Revised: January 27, 2026 Accepted: February 5, 2026 Published online: July 19, 2026 Processing time: 166 Days and 0.4 Hours
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of visual impairment and is associated with psychological distress. Yuan et al recently published a study in the World Journal of Psychiatry, which examined risk factors associated with anxiety and depression in these patients. The risk was greater for patients with non-proliferative DR, longer duration of diabetes, greater visual disturbance, hypertension, and family history of diabetes; the risk was less for those who received more social support (Social Support Rating Scale ≥ 35). This underscores the need to integrate psychological screening and assessment of social support into the care of these patients. This letter highlights the novelties of this new study, emphasizes the need for targeted interventions that improve social support for these patients, and calls for further large-scale studies to validate these findings for patients with proliferative DR. Use of a holistic approach to address retinal pathology and psychological well-being may significantly improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with DR.
Core Tip: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is closely linked to psychological distress, with social support acting as a key protective factor. This study proposes targeted strategies—including standardized assessments, stratified support systems, and enhanced perceived support—to integrate psychosocial care into DR management, highlighting the value of a biopsychosocial model for improving patient outcomes.
