Assessing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention for tinnitus using behavioural measures and structural
Fatima T Husain1,2,3, Benjamin Zimmerman1,2,3, Yihsin Tai1,3
1Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
International Journal of Audiology
|June 22, 2019
Summary
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) effectively reduced tinnitus distress. This approach also led to significant increases in grey matter volume in specific brain regions, suggesting neuroanatomical changes correlate with symptom improvement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Audiology
Background:
- Tinnitus is a common condition characterized by distressing auditory perception.
- Current treatments for tinnitus distress have varying efficacy.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) shows promise for managing psychological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in alleviating tinnitus-related distress.
- To investigate potential neuroanatomical changes associated with MBCT intervention in tinnitus patients using structural MRI.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 21 participants with tinnitus underwent a modified MBCT program.
- Audiological assessments and structural MRI scans were performed at baseline, post-intervention, and 8-week follow-up.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze changes in grey matter volume.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in tinnitus-related questionnaire scores were observed post-intervention and at follow-up.
- VBM analysis revealed significant increases in grey matter volume in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus.
- Changes in grey matter volume in occipital and cingulate regions correlated with decreased tinnitus handicap.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study suggests that MBCT is a viable approach for managing distressing tinnitus.
- Neuroanatomical alterations, particularly increased grey matter in the superior frontal gyrus, may underlie the therapeutic effects of MBCT.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness interventions for tinnitus.
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