[Psychiatric diagnoses and treatment of deaf and hearing-impaired patients].

BACKGROUND

In the general mental health care the psychiatric diagnosis is the major focus of treatment. With deaf and hard of hearing clients a boarder scope is needed to include the impact of language development on the psychiatric diagnoses.

AIM: Clarifying challenges and possibilities in mental health treatment of deaf and hard of hearing clients.

METHOD: Following the steps of the treatment process we will elaborate on challenges and possibilities in diagnosing and evidence-based treatment methods.

RESULTS

Treatment of psychiatric diagnoses of deaf and hard of hearing clients can be very effective if offered in sign language, with respect for cultural aspects and slight adjustments to treatment methods as CBT, EMDR, schema-focused therapy and psychopharmaceuticals.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the deaf and hard of hearing experience is crucial in the treatment of psychiatric diagnoses of patients.