Depression and self-awareness of impairment in a group of adults with sight loss

Senra, Hugo Renato Carreira Gomes; Oliveira, Rui Aragão Gomes; Leal, Isabel Pereira

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/1754

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Authors

Senra, Hugo Renato Carreira Gomes

Oliveira, Rui Aragão Gomes

Leal, Isabel Pereira

Abstract(s)

Background: Depression has been referred as a frequent problem in visually impaired adults. Recent studies have hypothesized depression as part of the adjustment process to vision loss. Studies with other physically impaired patients have associated depression with self-awareness of the impairment. Aim: Our study wants to know if self-awareness of the impairment is associated with depressive levels, putting depression as part of the adjustment process to vision loss. Methods: A naturalistic cross-sectional study, using both qualitative and quantitative instruments was adopted. Our sample was composed by a selected group of 40 adult patients at a rehabilitation setting, and who have lost their vision after age 18. Self-awareness of the impairment was collected through semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was performed using the Thematic and Categorical Analysis proposed by Bardin. Depressive levels were assessed using CES-D. Results: Qualitative data showed patients in with different emotional resonances of their impairment. A great portion of patients (40%) meet CES-D criteria for depression. Time between first diagnosis and vision loss (disease evolution) (.335; p=.035) and the rehabilitation time (.333; p=.036) were positively correlated with depressive levels. Patients who became impaired for longer (p=0.034), and those who verbalized more feelings and ideas about their impairment (p=0.039) showed higher depressive levels. Conclusions: Depression appeared associated with variables that reveal patients’ self-awareness of the impairment and its integration in the individual's self. Therefore, depression appeared as part of the adaptation to vision loss instead of being a signal of a pooradjustment. Keywords: Depression; vision loss; self-awareness; adaptation