This is an observational study of specialised CBT for tinnitus for adults delivered in routine care.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
403
CBT for tinnitus (Step 1) comprised: individual audiometric assessment, and counselling about hearing and tinnitus (1hr) with an audiologist; a one-off educational group session (a max 10 participants and partners) (2hrs); an assessment session with a psychologists (1 hr).
Step 2 group sessions were 2 hrs long over a 12-week period. Two therapists (a psychologist and physiotherapist) were present at any one time for Step 2 sessions. Step 2 included: psycho-education; exposure therapy; mindfulness exercises; cognitive restructuring; attention redirecting techniques; stress reduction; and, relaxation techniques. Evening sessions were also provided for participants to attend with family or partners.
Health Utilities Index-III
The Health Utilities Index (HUI; Feeny et al., 2002; Horsman, Furlong, Feeny, \& Torrance, 2003) is a 17-item measure designed to assess health related quality of life.
Time frame: 12 months
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)
The THI (Newman, Jacobson, \& Spitzer, 1996; Newman, Sandridge, \& Jacobson, 1998).is a 25 items measure of the impact of tinnitus on daily life that includes three subscales. The subscales cover functional (mental, social/occupational and physical functioning), emotional impact and catastrophic responses to tinnitus.
Time frame: 12 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; Zigmond & Snaith, 1983).
The HADS is a widely used measure of psychological distress in people experiencing a concurrent physical health condition. It has 14 items and respondents use a Likert-type scale to indicate how often they have had a particular feeling in the previous week (e.g. "I feel tense or wound up").
Time frame: 12 months
Tinnitus Catastrophizing Scale (TCS)
Tinnitus Catastrophizing Scale (TCS; Cima, Crombez, \& Vlaeyen, 2011). The TCS was used to assess the degree to which people thought or expected the worst about tinnitus (i.e. catastrophizing). The TCS is a 13-item measure based on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Sullivan, Bishop, \& Pivik, 1995) and respondents use a five point scale to indicate the degree to which statements applies to them (e.g. It's terrible and I think it's never going to get any better). The total score on the TCS ranges from 0 to 65.
Time frame: 12 months
Fear of Tinnitus Questionnaire (FTQ)
The FTQ is a 17-item self-report measure intended and designed to assess respondents' level of fear regarding their tinnitus. Items in the questionnaire are presented as a series of statements (e.g. "I am afraid that my tinnitus will become worse") from which respondents are asked to indicate if it is applicable to their current situation. Each statement receives a score of 1 when applicable. The total score is the sum of all applicable statements and provides an overall rating of fear of tinnitus and ranges from 0 to 17.
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Time frame: 12 months
Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ)
The Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ; Hallam, Jakes, \& Hinchcliffe, 1988) is a self-report questionnaire designed to asses distress and interference in daily activities that is associated with tinnitus. It has 52 items and uses a three-point scale to indicate levels of distress on six subscales. The total possible score on the TQ ranges from 0-84.
Time frame: 12 months
Tinnitus Disability Index (TDI)
The Tinnitus Disability Index (TDI; Cima, Vlaeyen, Maes, Joore, \& Anteunis, 2011) is a seven-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the level of interferences in daily activities (such as occupational, social, and recreational) attributed to tinnitus. Respondents use an 11-point scale to indicate the level of interference ranging from 0 no disability, to 10 total disability. The total score ranges from 0 to 70 with higher scores indicating higher levels of interference.
Time frame: 12 months