Factors Associated With Misophonia: A Systematic Review

Misophonia, known as hypersensitivity to certain sounds, has a significant impact on psychological well-being. Studies in the literature focus on triggers, responses to triggers, neural mechanisms, and quality of life. Risk factors should be understood to guide the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of misophonia. This systematic review aims to explore the available evidence identifying factors associated with misophonia in the general or clinical population.

This study was a systematic review protocol. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, and Science Direct electronic databases were searched using the keywords. In the study with no year restriction, factors associated with misophonia were the primary outcomes. Joanna Briggs Institute critical analysis tools were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies.

In electronic databases, 1206 records were identified, of which 19 were included. In studies the Misophonia Questionnaire (MQ) was frequently used to assess symptoms of misophonia. Methodological quality assessments of the studies ranged from 62.5% to 100%.

Most of the factors associated with misophonia were mental disorders and sociodemographic factors. The presence of mental disorders and female gender were frequently associated with misophonia.