Internet-based cognitive behavioural self-help (iCBT) has become increasingly popular to provide psychotherapy. For several psychological and psychosomatic disorders, treatment efficacy was shown. Previously, iCBT has also been applied to patients suffering from tinnitus and results show significant and long-term stable improvements in tinnitus distress. However, the role of therapeutic support in iCBT has not been thoroughly investigated. Previous results suggest that iCBT without therapeutic support is less effective and leads to higher dropout rates than therapist-guided iCBT. The aim of the randomized controlled trial is thus to investigate the role of therapeutic support in an iCBT for tinnitus sufferers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
112
The intervention is based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and is offered as a self-help and provided over the internet. Participants work on their own on different modules which give information about tinnitus and the associated symptoms and provide instructions for practical exercises.
Philipps University Marburg, Dept. of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Marburg, Hesse, Germany
Change in tinnitus distress
Assessment of tinnitus distress with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ) Newman, C. W., Jacobson, G. P., \& Spitzer, J. B. (1996). Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 122(2), 143-148. Hiller, W., \& Goebel, G. (2004). Rapid assessment of tinnitus-related psychological distress using the Mini-TQ. Int J Audiol, 43(10), 600-604.
Time frame: 1 year; pre, post, 6-mo-follow-up
Change in depressive Symptoms
Assessment of depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., \& Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med, 16(9), 606-613. 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x Zigmond, A. S., \& Snaith, R. P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 67(6), 361-370.
Time frame: 1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up
Change in tinnitus-related thoughts
Assessment of dysfunctional tinnitus-related thoughts with the Tinnitus Cognitions Scale (T-Cog) Hiller, W., \& Haerkötter, C. (2005). Does sound stimulation have additive effects on cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronic tinnitus? Behav Res Ther, 43(5), 595-612.
Time frame: 1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up
Change of tinnitus acceptance
Assessment of tinnitus acceptance with the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire (TAQ) Weise, C., Kleinstauber, M., Hesser, H., Westin, V. Z., \& Andersson, G. (2013). Acceptance of tinnitus: validation of the tinnitus acceptance questionnaire. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 42(2), 100-115. 10.1080/16506073.2013.781670
Time frame: 1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up
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