Efficacy and Safety of CBT on Tinnitus

Overview

Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external stimuli, affects 14% of the global population, posing a significant public health concern. This predominantly subjective condition often leads to psychological and physical distress, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. As tinnitus prevalence rises due to aging populations and increased noise exposure, the need for effective treatments grows urgent. Current approaches include pharmacological interventions, sound therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with CBT recognized as most effective for addressing psychological distress. However, traditional therapies face accessibility barriers such as frequent in-person sessions and high costs. Digital therapeutics, particularly mobile applications, offer promising solutions by providing scalable, accessible interventions. These allow patients to engage in therapy conveniently, accessing real-time, personalized content. Despite advancements, research on digital therapeutics combining CBT and sound therapy for tinnitus remains limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the clinical efficacy of a mobile application delivering personalized CBT and sound stimulation compared to conventional CBT, potentially contributing to more accessible and effective tinnitus treatment options.

Tinnitus, characterized by the perception of sound without external stimuli, affects approximately 14% of the global population, posing a significant public health concern. This predominantly subjective condition often leads to psychological and physical distress, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Current approaches to managing tinnitus include pharmacological interventions, sound therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Among these, CBT is recognized as one of the most effective methods for addressing the psychological distress associated with tinnitus. However, traditional CBT often faces accessibility barriers, such as the need for frequent in-person sessions and high costs. This limits its reach and effectiveness for many patients.Digital therapeutics, particularly mobile applications, offer promising solutions by providing scalable and accessible interventions. These platforms allow patients to engage in therapy conveniently, accessing real-time, personalized content. Despite advancements in digital therapeutics, research on combining CBT and sound therapy for tinnitus remains limited. This gap in research highlights the need for innovative, accessible treatments that can be tailored to individual patient needs. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the clinical efficacy of a mobile application that delivers personalized CBT and sound stimulation. The application, designed to provide tailored interventions, will be compared to conventional CBT methods. By leveraging the strengths of both CBT and sound therapy, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more accessible and effective tinnitus treatment options. The study will employ a prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-blind (participant), parallel-design, superiority, confirmatory trial to assess the efficacy and safety of the mobile application. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group using the mobile application or the control group receiving conventional CBT educational materials. The primary outcome will be the change in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores from baseline to 6 weeks, with secondary outcomes including changes in THI subscales, Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for negative emotions and tinnitus discomfort, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The study's design and methodology are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the mobile application. By using a randomized controlled trial design, the study ensures that any observed effects can be attributed to the intervention rather than external factors. The use of standardized assessment tools like THI and TFI will provide a comprehensive understanding of the application's impact on tinnitus-related distress. Furthermore, the study will assess the safety and tolerability of the mobile application, monitoring for any adverse events or side effects. This is essential for ensuring that the treatment is not only effective but also safe for widespread use.