Depression in persons with disabilities: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Disability Studies
• Mental Health Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Individuals with disabilities exhibit increased vulnerability to depression compared to the general population.
• Existing research on depression among people with disabilities necessitates a comprehensive overview of current knowledge, interventions, and assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review mapping the evidence on depression, intervention strategies, and assessment tools for individuals with disabilities.
• To identify effective interventions and highlight gaps in research for improving mental health care for disabled populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• An extensive electronic search was performed across PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases.
• Full-text articles were screened, with 41 papers included for analysis, predominantly cross-sectional studies.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of studies (78.04%) were cross-sectional, with 34.14% reporting general disability.
• The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was a common depression assessment tool (29.26%).
• Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy, psychological counseling, social support, and physical activity (34.14% of studies) were effective in reducing depression severity, with CBT and counseling showing significant impact.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling are effective interventions for reducing depression in individuals with disabilities.
• There is a need for more randomized controlled trials focusing on disability-specific interventions to enhance the quality of life for disabled individuals.