Identifying and Assessing Depression in Prelingually Deaf People: A Literature Review

Abstract

Identifying and assessing depression is essential to ensuring access to appropriate treatment and services. Unfortunately, limited literature exists on identifying and assessing depression in prelingually deaf people. In a literature review, the authors critically examined relevant published studies. The earliest reported information on depression in deaf people was found in historical studies that descriptively evaluated specialist psychiatric services for deaf people. These studies did not accurately reflect the prevalence of depression; reasons for this are discussed. Issues regarding assessment of depression in deaf people, such as communication, use of interpreters, and use of standardized assessments, are examined. Studies that have attempted to overcome these challenges are reviewed, including studies using modified versions of written questionnaires designed for hearing people and studies in which standardized questionnaires were translated and administered in sign. Advantages and disadvantages of different methods are highlighted; recommendations for future research are made.

Thinking styles of university deaf or hard of hearing students and hearing students

“…Test directions accommodation refers to explaining the measurement purpose to participants with hearing impairment through interpreting test instructions into sign language (Cawthon & Online Research Lab, 2006). Language accommodation means language translation or language simplification (Connolly, Rose, & Austen, 2006). From students' perspectives means with the help of students, while from teachers' perspectives means with the help of teachers.…”

Psychiatric Care of Deaf Patients in the General Hospital: An Overview

“…33 An additional diagnostic problem comes from the level of English used in psychiatric scales (e.g., the Beck Depression Inventory or the Hamilton Anxiety Scale); many Deaf individuals do not have the ninth grade education level (with the median educational level of Deaf high school graduates estimated at 4.5-grade level) required to complete these scales. 34 In an inpatient sample (2010) for mood disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, or cognitive disorders (such as the dementias), the prevalence between Deaf and hearing patients did not differ. Similarly, other studies (Black and Glickman, 31 Fellinger et al, 35 and de Bruin and de Graaf 36 ) revealed that the prevalence of psychotic disorders did not differ between Deaf and hearing subjects.…”

The Psychological Treatment Needs of Deaf Mental Health Patients in High-Secure Settings: A Review of the Literature

“…However, Connolly, Rose, and Austen (2006) suggest that it is important to examine the identification and assessment of mental health problems in deaf people before evidence from prevalence studies are considered.…”

“…Griggs (2000) suggests that the most appropriate group to use for comparison for assessing the mental health of deaf people is not the hearing population but other deaf people. Connolly, Rose, and Austen (2006) suggest that the current evidence base of the mental health of deaf people is very limited and that there is a pressing need for clinically useful research in this area. The issues identified above show the limitations of the current literature base that prevent an accurate picture of the psychological functioning of the deaf population as a whole.…”

“…This may allow greater room for the Deaf cultural perspective in the way deafness is classified compared Downloaded by [Universidad de Sevilla] at 01:52 21 October 2014 Harry, 1984;Denmark, 1985;Harry & Dietz, 1985;Vernon & Rich, 1997;Vernon & Greenberg, 1999;Young et al, 2000;Miller & Vernon, 2001;Young et al, 2001;Miller & Vernon, 2003;Iqbal et al, 2004;Miller et al, 2005;Bramley, 2007Mental Health 8 Altshuler & Baroff, 1962Denmark, 1985;Young, et al, 2000;De Bruin & De Graaf, 2004;Iqbal et al, 2004;Cornes & Napier, 2005;Kvam, et al, 2007;Landsberger & Diaz, 2010. Assessment 4 Dickert, 1988Fellinger et al, 2005b;O'Rourke & Grewer, 2005;Connolly et al, 2006. Treatment 5 Arana et al, 1978Rothfeld, 1982;Sylvester et al, 1986;Guthmann & Sandberg, 1995;Bramley, 2007 to previous classifications defining deafness in terms of a disability or impairment.…”