Visual Impairment Associated with Higher Rates of Suicidal Thoughts and Attempts in South Korea
Though we generally consider mental
illness to be caused entirely by dysfunction within the brain, damage to other
parts of the body can strongly influence the development of mental illness.
Studies have shown that visual impairment, for example, can lead to a greater
incidence of depression and even suicide. A study recently published in the
British Journal of Ophthalmology has further investigated the effect of visual
acuity on suicide and depression in South Korea.
Researchers used medical
information provided by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey to examine visual acuity, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts
and/or attempts in 28,919 Korean participants aged 19 years or older. Visual
acuity was measured via an eye chart and suicide/depressive symptoms were
ascertained through a mental health questionnaire. Statistical analyses showed
that lower visual acuity was significantly linked with suicidal thoughts and
attempts. A severe loss of vision to the point of total or near-total blindness
was associated with a 2-3 fold greater risk of suicide compared to participants
with normal vision. However, researchers found no link between visual acuity
and depression. Importantly, researchers also found that less than 30% of participants
who had attempted suicide and less than 10% of participants with suicidal
thoughts had sought counseling for these issues.
It is presently unclear whether the
results of this study are generalizable to people of other nationalities and
cultures, and further testing is needed to confirm these results in alternate
populations. Despite this, the present study has important implications for the
treatment of patients with poor visual acuity. Though many programs and
technologies exist to improve the day-to-day lives of blind or visually impaired
individuals on a practical level, treatments often do not focus on the mental
and emotional toll that comes with loss of vision. Researchers of the present study
have encouraged ophthalmologists to prioritize patient mental health and
encourage those suffering from visual impairments to seek counseling if needed.
Br J Ophthalmol doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306518
Caroline
Russell-Troutman is the 2014-2015 Research Highlights Editor.
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