Depression has been shown to be a common co-morbidity in diabetes. From a public health point of view, there is a lack of population-based studies regarding the use of antidepressant medication in non-clinical samples of people with diabetes. The objective of the present study was to provide demographic and clinical information about the use of antidepressant medication in a representative community sample of people with diabetes.

The Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2 (CCHS 1.2) is a cross-sectional survey that collects information related to health status, health-care utilization and health determinants of the Canadian general population. Diabetes presence was ascertained by self-report of physician diagnosis. Depression and anxiety were assessed using a modified version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Antidepressant use was determined through self-report.

The population prevalence of self-reported antidepressant use in the past 12 months was 8.4% (SE = 0.95) among people with diabetes (n = 1,662). People who took antidepressants had higher average body mass index (M = 32.6, SD = 6.5) than those not taking antidepressants (M = 29.2, SD = 5.7). The use of antidepressants was associated with poorer health status and higher number of co-morbid chronic conditions. Half of diabetes subjects who used antidepressant medication in the last year did not have a lifetime history of major depression.

In a community sample of people with diabetes, the prevalence of antidepressant use exceeded the prevalence of major depression. Anxiety disorders and other somatic chronic conditions were associated with the prescription of antidepressant medication in people with diabetes, but without a history of major depression.