Deaf Blindness and Mental Health – Prevalence of Mental Disorders of an Upper Austrian Outpatient Service

Abstract

Introduction

People with deaf blindness are a vulnerable group concerning mental health problems. Due to their constraints in orientation, mobility, access to information and communication they often suffer from a lack of interpersonal relationships and accessibility to health care.

Aims

To assess the prevalence of mental disorders in patients with deaf blindness and exam associations with forms of communication.

Methods

A retrospective data evaluation of all outpatient charts of patients treated between 2000–2013 in a specialized outpatient unit that provides primary care for all deaf people for the whole catchment area of Upper Austria was conducted. Data were analysed regarding the degree of visual and hearing impairment and the presence of a mental disorder.

Results

Forty-seven of 1500 patients were identified as deaf blind including 12 suffering from Usher Syndrome. Of those 29 (61.7%) were at least once diagnosed with a mental disorder, most frequently with a mood disorder (MD) (F30–F39) in 40.4%; an anxiety, stress-related, somatoform disorders (AD) (F40–F49) in 12.8% and a schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20–F29) in 10.6%. Deaf blind patients suffered compared to deaf patients more often from a MD (40.4% vs.11.3%) however less often from a AD (12.8% vs. 32.6%). No significant association between the form of communication and being diagnosed with a mental disorder could be found.

Conclusion

Patients with deaf blindness suffer to a high extend from mental disorders, especially MDs. It is of utmost importance to reduce the burden of this population and improve access to specialized services to diminish isolation as major risk factor.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.