BACKGROUND: Counselling is a basic psychological intervention for chronic tinnitus the effectiveness of which has not yet been evaluated. SCIENTIFIC QUESTION: The therapeutic effect of counselling was compared to that of a self-help manual. Outcome was analysed for tinnitus disability, tendency to become chronic, and accompanying psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A total of 75 tinnitus outpatients were randomly assigned to group counselling (n=35) and self-help (n=40). Tinnitus disability, general psychological disturbances, depression, anxiety, coping and illness beliefs were measured using questionnaires (TQ, SCL-90-R, BDI, BAI, FKV, KKG) administered before and after treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Psychiatric disorders (DSM-IV) were assessed using the CIDI. RESULTS: Counselling and the self-help manual had a significant effect on tinnitus disability, showing most profit for participants with a high level of tinnitus distress. The significant reduction in tinnitus distress was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. There was, however, no difference between the two treatment-groups. Effect-sizes for patients with DSM-IV-diagnoses were smaller. CONCLUSION:For tinnitus outpatients without psychiatric comorbidity, self-help manuals can be an effective first treatment.
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BACKGROUND: Counselling is a basic psychological intervention for chronic tinnitus the effectiveness of which has not yet been evaluated. SCIENTIFIC QUESTION: The therapeutic effect of counselling was compared to that of a self-help manual. Outcome was analysed for tinnitus disability, tendency to become chronic, and accompanying psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A total of 75 tinnitus outpatients were randomly assigned to group counselling (n=35) and self-help (n=40). Tinnitus disability, general psychological disturbances, depression, anxiety, coping and illness beliefs were measured using questionnaires (TQ, SCL-90-R, BDI, BAI, FKV, KKG) administered before and after treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Psychiatric disorders (DSM-IV) were assessed using the CIDI. RESULTS: Counselling and the self-help manual had a significant effect on tinnitus disability, showing most profit for participants with a high level of tinnitus distress. The significant reduction in tinnitus distress was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. There was, however, no difference between the two treatment-groups. Effect-sizes for patients with DSM-IV-diagnoses were smaller. CONCLUSION: For tinnitus outpatients without psychiatric comorbidity, self-help manuals can be an effective first treatment.
Authors: N Zirke; C Seydel; D Arsoy; B F Klapp; H Haupt; A J Szczepek; H Olze; G Goebel; B Mazurek Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2013-01-05 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: H-P Zenner; W Delb; B Kröner-Herwig; B Jäger; I Peroz; G Hesse; B Mazurek; G Goebel; C Gerloff; R Trollmann; E Biesinger; H Seidler; B Langguth Journal: HNO Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 1.284
Authors: Elisabeth Wallhäusser-Franke; Roberto D'Amelio; Anna Glauner; Wolfgang Delb; Jérôme J Servais; Karl Hörmann; Ines Repik Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2017-11-20 Impact factor: 4.003