Individuals with Tinnitus Report More Positive Experiences following Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Health Technology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Chronic tinnitus affects many individuals, often associated with distress.
• Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a potential treatment modality.
• Assessing positive outcomes beyond symptom reduction is crucial for treatment evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if internet-based CBT increases positive experiences in individuals with chronic tinnitus.
• To explore the impact of CBT on participants' reported positive outcomes related to tinnitus.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design was employed within clinical trials of internet interventions.
• 164 participants completed online questionnaires assessing demographics, health variables, and positive experiences.
• Qualitative content analysis was used for open-ended responses regarding positive effects of tinnitus.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in reported positive experiences was observed post-intervention (p < 0.0001).
• Over 30% of participants reported positive experiences both before and after the intervention.
• Participants reporting positive experiences at both time points showed further improvement post-intervention (p = 0.008).

Conclusions:

• Internet-based CBT effectively promotes more positive thinking in individuals with tinnitus.
• The therapy helps by modifying unhelpful thought patterns associated with tinnitus.
• Open-ended questions are valuable for supplementing structured measures in assessing treatment outcomes.