About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a short, Zoom-based intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treatment-Seeking for Deaf Individuals (Deaf CBT-TS) can change beliefs about mental health treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors in Deaf adults with untreated mental health or alcohol use problems. It will also see if Deaf CBT-TS may reduce suicide risk and explore factors that may increase the effectiveness of Deaf CBT-TS. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does Deaf CBT-TS increase positive beliefs about treatment and increase treatment-seeking behaviors? * Does Deaf CBT-TS increase hope and reduce mental health symptoms, suicide ideation, and alcohol use? * Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for individuals with less cultural stress compared to those with high levels of cultural stress? * Is Deaf CBT-TS more effective for Deaf individuals in residential areas with more Deaf resources than those with less Deaf resources? Researchers will compare individuals who complete Deaf CBT-TS to those on a waitlist to see if Deaf CBT-TS works to increase positive beliefs about treatment and treatment-seeking behaviors.

Participants will:

* Complete a baseline assessment including demographic information, measures of hope, general mental health and functioning, alcohol use, suicide ideation, cultural stress, and beliefs about treatment. * Receive Deaf CBT-TS (2 sessions) or be placed on a waitlist with the option of receiving Deaf CBT-Ts after 4 months * Complete two follow-up assessments in 2 and 4 months.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

adult (aged 18 years or older)

Self-identify as Deaf or hard of hearing (any degree of hearing loss)

Primary method of communication is American Sign Language

Positive screen for one or more mental health disorders including depression (PHQ-9 > 10), anxiety (GAD-7 > 10), posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 > 31), insomnia (ISI > 15), or alcohol use disorder (AUDIT > 16)

Disqualifiers

unable to communicate with the researcher in American Sign Language

current alcohol withdrawal necessitating medical evaluation

current psychiatric impairment necessitating emergency services or inpatient admission (i.e., imminent danger of harm to self or others)

unable to comprehend the nature of the study

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Deaf CBT-TS

Treatment groups

110 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Locations

1
University of Rochester Medical Center14642, RochesterNew York, United States

Sponsors and collaborators

University of Rochester

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator