Kushalnagar Poorna, Reesman Jennifer, Holcomb Tara, Ryan Claire
Gallaudet University.
Kennedy Krieger Institute, John Hopkins University School of Medicine.
J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2019 Oct 1;24(4):378-385. doi: 10.1093/deafed/enz017.
The national prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among deaf adults who use American Sign Language (ASL) remains largely understudied. Data for self-reported depression and anxiety disorder diagnosis (n = 1,704 deaf adults; n = 3,287 hearing adults) as told by their healthcare providers were drawn from HINTS-ASL and HINTS datasets. Chi-square and Poisson regression analysis compared characteristics and predictors for depression or anxiety disorder diagnosis among deaf adults. Rate of diagnosed depression or anxiety disorder was significantly higher (25%) and occurred at earlier age (45 years; SD = 15) for deaf adults compared to hearing adults (22%; mean age = 56; SD = 14). After adjusting for covariates, deaf individuals who were White, younger, female, educated, or single were significantly more likely to self-report a diagnosis of depression/anxiety disorder as told by their healthcare providers. Deaf adults have higher reported rate of diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorder at an earlier onset compared to the general population. Communication access with healthcare providers is essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and follow up care.
美国手语（ASL）使用者中成年聋人的抑郁症和焦虑症全国患病率在很大程度上仍未得到充分研究。自我报告的抑郁症和焦虑症诊断数据（成年聋人n = 1704；成年听力正常者n = 3287）由其医疗服务提供者提供，这些数据取自美国国家健康访谈调查-美国手语（HINTS-ASL）和美国国家健康访谈调查（HINTS）数据集。卡方检验和泊松回归分析比较了成年聋人中抑郁症或焦虑症诊断的特征和预测因素。与成年听力正常者（22%；平均年龄 = 56岁；标准差 = 14）相比，成年聋人的抑郁症或焦虑症诊断率显著更高（25%），且发病年龄更早（45岁；标准差 = 15）。在对协变量进行调整后，白人、年轻、女性、受过教育或单身的聋人个体更有可能自我报告其医疗服务提供者告知的抑郁症/焦虑症诊断。与普通人群相比，成年聋人的抑郁症或焦虑症诊断报告率更高，且发病更早。与医疗服务提供者的沟通对于准确诊断、治疗和后续护理至关重要。
