title: A cognitive therapy program for hearing-impaired employees suffering from mental distress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a cognitive therapy program to reduce mental distress among hearing-impaired employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a pilot study we measured the development of mental distress and avoidant coping among hearing-impaired employees. Levels of mental distress were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD), and the extent of avoidance with conversation tactics checklist CONV(AVOID). The findings were compared with the development in a treatment as usual (TAU) sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen participants with an equal distribution of male and female participants (M = 49.2 years) took part. The majority had mild to moderate hearing impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The program appeared to be feasible and the adherence was good. The mean depression score was identical at pre- and post-intervention in the intervention group, and increased from 2.9 (SD 2.1) to 3.1 (SD 2.0) in the TAU group. Symptoms of anxiety (p < 0.01, 95 % CI (.82, 3.98)) and avoidant communication (p < 0.05, 95% CI (.5, 4.61)) decreased significantly in the intervention group, while an opposite pattern was observed during the TAU program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program showed promising results. However, the preliminary results should be further investigated in a randomized controlled trial using a larger sample.
authors.affiliation: Divison of Mental Health and Addiction, National Centre for Hearing Impairment and Mental Health, Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Katharine Cecilia
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falkum
authors.forename: Egil Wilhelm
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Martinsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003142:Communication; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Behavioral measures; Cognitive therapy; hearing impairment; hearing-aid satisfaction; psycho-social/emotional; speech perception