Author | Design | Aims | Participants/setting | Main outcome measures | Key findings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black and Glickman, 2006 | Prevalence study | To examine demographic and clinical characteristics of deaf and hearing psychiatric in- patients | A total of 64 deaf adult patients of specialist deaf unit at Westborough State Hospital, USA. All discharged between 1999 – 2004 (55% male; 45% female). No mention of age. Controls: 64 hearing patients discharged between 1999 – 2004. A total of 180 hearing patients seen on one day in March 2006. | The Clinical Evaluation of Risk and Functioning Scale, revised. The Allen Cognitive Levels Scale. Language Rating Scale. | Deaf psychiatric inpatients rated at significantly higher risk of self-harm than hearing psychiatric patients by clinicians. A total of 23.4% of deaf patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. |
Boyechko, 1992 | Prevalence study | To explore attitudes, experience and associated risk factors for suicide among hearing impaired college students. To explore the relationship between suicidal behaviour and depression, hopelessness and social support. | 60 deaf college students of Gallaudet University, Washington DC, USA, recruited via personal appeal and by post. Nine excluded for recording 'outlying results.' | Suicide Opinion Questionnaire, Suicide Information Questionnaire, Provision of Social Relations, Beck Depression Inventory Hopelessness Scale. | Over lifetime: 30% attempted suicide, 30% seriously considered suicide. During past year: 18% attempted suicide, 18% seriously considered suicide. No completed suicides. |
Critchfield et al, 1987 | Survey | To determine the types and levels of suicide intervention techniques in place at various educational settings for the deaf and hearing impaired. To investigate frequency of suicidal behaviour over 1 year period in these settings. | A total of 92 (from 153 approached) US schools for the deaf; 45% were deaf-only programmes, 31% combined deaf/hearing, 24% deaf post-secondary. A total of 45% had residential students, 55% had day students. All students of junior high school age or above. | Questionnaire (not provided) concerning frequency of suicidal 'attempts/gestures'; verbalization and hospitalisation of students. | A total of 503 (6.3%) incidents of suicidal behaviour during past year among 8 020 students; 134 suicidal attempts/gestures (1.7%), 69 hospitalisations for suicidal or depressive episode. No completed suicides. |
De Leo et al, 1999 | Prevalence study | To investigate the physiological and pathological reactions to sight loss. To understand pathological reactions to fear of going blind. To investigate a population of suicides involving the fear of blindness. | A total of 3 654 autopsy case reports for suicide over the period 1990 – 1997 in Queensland, Australia. | Coroner's post-mortem reports, detailing: age; gender; psychiatric history; major life changes resulting from impairment; social and family support and other events. Police reports and questionnaires. Cases included if there was mention of visual/hearing impairment in coroners' records. | A total of 19 cases (0.52% of sample) found to have sensory impairment. Twelve cases (0.3% of sample) found to be visually impaired. Seven cases (0.19% of sample) found to be hearing impaired. In two cases, hearing loss described as 'major contributing factor' to suicide. |
Dudzinski, 1998 | Survey | To explore the presence, perception and impact of suicidal ideation in deaf students (focus on young adults). To assess response patterns to suicidal behaviour in deaf schools. | A total of 42 (from 83 approached) US residential and day educational programmes for the deaf. No information on attending students (e.g. age, gender). | Eight-item suicide ideation questionnaire, completed by principals, associate principals, senior counsellors and supervisors. | Estimated prevalence from results: 8% of all students were referred to counselling for suicidal ideation during academic careers, representing approximately 17% of all students referred to counselling. |
Jacobsen and McCaslin, 2001 | Literature review | To establish evidence of a direct relationship between tinnitus and suicide. | Clinical populations | Medline and HealthStar electronic databases, using search terms 'tinnitus' and 'suicide'. | Four articles found directly addressing tinnitus and suicidal behaviour. No evidence of causal relationship. |
Leigh et al, 1988 | Cross-sectional study | To modify the Beck Depression Inventory for use with the deaf. | A total of 214 college students: 112 hearing, 102 deaf (students at National Technical Institute for the Deaf, USA.) Hearing loss > 80 db. No mention of participant selection methods. | Beck Depression Inventory. Beck Depression Inventory, revised for use with the deaf. | Mean BDI: 10 (deaf); 7.8 (hearing). No difference among hearing group in scores of original and revised test versions. Lower internal consistency in scores of revised version among deaf than hearing students. |
Leigh et al, 1989 | Cross-sectional study | To investigate whether deaf and hearing populations differ in experiences of depressive symptoms. | A total of 214 college students: 112 hearing, 102 deaf (students at National Technical Institute for the Deaf, USA). Hearing loss > 80 db. | Beck Depression Inventory. Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. Parental Bonding Instrument. All revised for use with the deaf. | A total of 43% of deaf students compared to 27% of hearing students scored within range of mild depression; 8% of deaf students compared to 4% of hearing students scored within range of moderate depression. |
Lewis et al, 1992 | Case study | To investigate tinnitus as a possible risk factor for suicide. To consider additional risk factors for suicide. | Six case studies of suicidal behaviour in tinnitus sufferers known to one clinic in Cardiff, Wales (Mar 1990 – April 1991). | Case reports of suicide, detailing social and demographic information, psychiatric history and type and severity of tinnitus. | Suicide rate: 118 per 100 000 for clinic attenders with tinnitus .Suicide risk factors: male gender; low SE class; social isolation; depression and other psychological problems. |
Lewis et al, 1994 | Survey | To inform practitioners of the risk factors for suicide among tinnitus sufferers. | A total of 50 audiology clinics contacted worldwide, from which 17 practitioners responded. A total of 23 cases of suicide in tinnitus sufferers, with five additional cases known to researchers. | A 20-item tinnitus and suicide questionnaire, requesting social and demographic information, psychiatric history and type and severity of tinnitus. | Suicide risk factors: male gender; low SES class; social isolation; bereavement; depression. A total of 90% of suicides in those aged > 40 years; 50% died within 2 years of onset of tinnitus. |
Lewis and Stephens, 1995 | Prevalence study | To determine the rate of attempted suicide among tinnitus sufferers. | A total of 184 patients admitted to poisons unit of one hospital in Glamorgan, South Wales. | A five-item tinnitus questionnaire, eliciting information on type, severity and duration of condition. | Three cases of tinnitus in 184 patients, representing 1.6% of entire sample. (General population prevalence of tinnitus around 7%.) |
Marcus, 1991 | Prevalence study | To provide a videotaped version of the Beck Depression Inventory in American sign language. To investigate the frequency of depression among deaf college students. | Experiment 1: 28 deaf college students. Experiment 2: 129 deaf college students. All paid volunteers from Gallaudet University, Washington DC. | Beck Depression Inventory. Brauer – Gallaudet Beck Depression Inventory (BGBDI; videotaped in American Sign Language for use with the deaf). MMPI-depression scale (videotaped in American Sign Language for use with the deaf). | Average score on BGBDI of 14.1; 61% had some depressive symptoms, 35% scored within range indicating mild depression. A total of 19% scored within range indicating moderate to severe depression; 7% scored within range indicating severe depression |
Watt and Davis, 1991 | Cross-sectional study | To explore the relationship between boredom-proneness and depression in deaf residential school students. | A total of 110 college students: 50 deaf (residential school), 60 hearing (junior high school) in south-eastern Unites States. | Boredom Proneness Scale. Beck Depression Inventory. Two versions of each: original and revised (for use with deaf). | A total of 40% of deaf vs 17% of hearing students recorded mild depression; 6% of deaf vs 3% of hearing students recorded moderate depression. Deaf students significantly more boredom-prone than hearing students. |