OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors investigated whether tinnitus severity is a problem related to depression. If so, the following 2 conditions should be fulfilled: first, there should be evidence for the presence of moderate to severe depressive symptomatology in a substantial group of tinnitus patients; second, there should be evidence of a substantial relationship between depressive symptoms and tinnitus severity. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department of the Ghent University Hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 136 consecutive help-seeking tinnitus patients were seen by a psychologist, an audiologist, and an ENT specialist. All patients filled in the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and underwent psychoacoustic measurement. RESULTS: Mean scores indicate the presence of no or minimal depressive symptoms. There was a positive correlation (P < .01) between the BDI-II and the THI. No correlations were found between psychoacoustic measures and the self-report questionnaires. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the predictive role of the 3 components of depression (cognitive, somatic, and affective) in tinnitus severity. Results show that only the somatic depression subscale of the BDI-II significantly predicted tinnitus severity, which can be explained because of content overlap between the BDI-II and the THI. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus does not appear to be a problem related to depression. The authors did not find a substantial group of tinnitus patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The relation between depressive symptoms and tinnitus severity seems to be an artifact of content overlap between the BDI-II and the THI.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors investigated whether tinnitus severity is a problem related to depression. If so, the following 2 conditions should be fulfilled: first, there should be evidence for the presence of moderate to severe depressive symptomatology in a substantial group of tinnituspatients; second, there should be evidence of a substantial relationship between depressive symptoms and tinnitus severity. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department of the Ghent University Hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 136 consecutive help-seeking tinnituspatients were seen by a psychologist, an audiologist, and an ENT specialist. All patients filled in the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and underwent psychoacoustic measurement. RESULTS: Mean scores indicate the presence of no or minimal depressive symptoms. There was a positive correlation (P < .01) between the BDI-II and the THI. No correlations were found between psychoacoustic measures and the self-report questionnaires. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the predictive role of the 3 components of depression (cognitive, somatic, and affective) in tinnitus severity. Results show that only the somatic depression subscale of the BDI-II significantly predicted tinnitus severity, which can be explained because of content overlap between the BDI-II and the THI. CONCLUSION:Tinnitus does not appear to be a problem related to depression. The authors did not find a substantial group of tinnituspatients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The relation between depressive symptoms and tinnitus severity seems to be an artifact of content overlap between the BDI-II and the THI.
Authors: Jamil Nasser Al-Swiahb; Eul Seung Hwang; Ji Sun Kong; Woo Jin Kim; Sang Won Yeo; Shi Nae Park Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2016-05-27 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Sylvie Hébert; Barbara Canlon; Dan Hasson; Linda L Magnusson Hanson; Hugo Westerlund; Töres Theorell Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-05-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Elisabeth Wallhäusser-Franke; Joachim Brade; Tobias Balkenhol; Roberto D'Amelio; Andrea Seegmüller; Wolfgang Delb Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-04-18 Impact factor: 3.240