K Tretbar1, M Basilowski2, K Wiedmann3, C Bartels3, P Heßmann3, M Kownatka2, J Signerski-Krieger3, N Scherbaum2, S Meuret1, M Fuchs1, J Wiltfang3, B Kis3, M Abdel-Hamid4. 1. Cochlea-Implantat-Zentrum Leipzig, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Leipzig, Deutschland. 2. LVR-Klinikum Essen, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Deutschland. 3. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Deutschland. 4. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Deutschland. Mona.Abdel-Hamid@med.uni-goettingen.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hearing-impairment can lead to a reduced quality of life and thus represents a vulnerability factor for mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study represents the first psychiatric analysis of subjective quality of life and depression in people with hearing-impairment in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient group included 30 hearing-impaired participants (27 women, 3 men) with a current or previous mental disorder and/or psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment (age: mean, M = 49.67 years; standard deviation, SD = 13.54 years). The control group consisted of 22 hearing-impaired participants (16 women, 6 men) without mental disorders or treatment (age: M = 52.41 years, SD = 17.30 years). Besides sociodemographic variables, we registered onset/extent of the various hearing-impairments and hearing aid provision. Both groups underwent extensive diagnostic assessment comprising subjective functional impairment (Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS), health-related quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI-II). RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in terms of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, or intelligence. Participants of the patient group had a significantly greater subjective impairment, a lower quality of life, and more pronounced symptoms of depression. The invasiveness of the hearing aid (i. e., cochlear implant) as well as the timepoint of hearing-impairment onset (postlingually) appear to serve as vulnerability factors for mental health problems in this group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that besides delivering high-quality acoustic care, practitioners should continuously check patients' requirements for psychosocial treatment due to a loss of quality of life. The development of a specific psychotherapeutic treatment for hearing-impaired clients requires additional research focused on protective and vulnerability factors which may influence the emergence of mental disorders in these patients.
BACKGROUND:Hearing-impairment can lead to a reduced quality of life and thus represents a vulnerability factor for mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study represents the first psychiatric analysis of subjective quality of life and depression in people with hearing-impairment in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient group included 30 hearing-impairedparticipants (27 women, 3 men) with a current or previous mental disorder and/or psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment (age: mean, M = 49.67 years; standard deviation, SD = 13.54 years). The control group consisted of 22 hearing-impairedparticipants (16 women, 6 men) without mental disorders or treatment (age: M = 52.41 years, SD = 17.30 years). Besides sociodemographic variables, we registered onset/extent of the various hearing-impairments and hearing aid provision. Both groups underwent extensive diagnostic assessment comprising subjective functional impairment (Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS), health-related quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI-II). RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in terms of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, or intelligence. Participants of the patient group had a significantly greater subjective impairment, a lower quality of life, and more pronounced symptoms of depression. The invasiveness of the hearing aid (i. e., cochlear implant) as well as the timepoint of hearing-impairment onset (postlingually) appear to serve as vulnerability factors for mental health problems in this group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that besides delivering high-quality acoustic care, practitioners should continuously check patients' requirements for psychosocial treatment due to a loss of quality of life. The development of a specific psychotherapeutic treatment for hearing-impaired clients requires additional research focused on protective and vulnerability factors which may influence the emergence of mental disorders in these patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cochlear-implant; Depression; Hearing-impairment; Postlingual hearing-impairment; Quality of life
Authors: Johannes Fellinger; Daniel Holzinger; Ulrike Dobner; Joachim Gerich; Roland Lehner; Gerhard Lenz; David Goldberg Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2005-09-05 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Janneke Nachtegaal; Jan H Smit; Cas Smits; Pieter D Bezemer; Johannes H M van Beek; Joost M Festen; Sophia E Kramer Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2009-06 Impact factor: 3.570
Authors: Michaela Plath; Theresa Marienfeld; Matthias Sand; Philipp S van de Weyer; Mark Praetorius; Peter K Plinkert; Ingo Baumann; Karim Zaoui Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-02-09 Impact factor: 2.503