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Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Cornelia Weise1, Maria Kleinstäuber, Gerhard Andersson
1From the Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology (Weise, Kleinstäuber), Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany; Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (Weise, Andersson), Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; and Psychiatry Section, Department of Clinical Neuroscience (Andersson), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (iCBT) significantly reduced tinnitus distress and associated symptoms compared to a discussion forum. This study confirms iCBT
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Otolaryngology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Tinnitus significantly impacts quality of life for up to 5% of the population.
- Internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (iCBT) has shown promise for tinnitus management.
- Randomized controlled trials are crucial for validating digital health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of therapist-guided iCBT for severe tinnitus-related distress.
- To compare iCBT with a moderated online discussion forum in a randomized controlled trial.
- To assess the long-term effects of iCBT on tinnitus distress and associated symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Patients with severe tinnitus distress were randomized into therapist-guided iCBT or an online discussion forum groups.
- Standardized self-report measures for tinnitus distress and associated symptoms were used.
- Assessments were conducted at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups.
Main Results:
- The iCBT group showed significant improvements in tinnitus-related distress compared to the discussion forum group.
- Large effect sizes were observed for tinnitus distress reduction in the iCBT group (THI: g=0.83, MTQ: g=1.08).
- Significant improvements were also noted for secondary outcomes like anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Conclusions:
- The study replicated previous findings on the positive effects of iCBT for tinnitus.
- iCBT is an effective treatment for reducing tinnitus-related distress and improving associated symptoms.
- Integrating iCBT into regular healthcare can enhance treatment accessibility for tinnitus patients.
