Clinical efficacy on anxiety, depression and sleep disorders in middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic subjective tinnitus

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) on anxiety, depression, and symptoms of sleep disorders in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus. Methods Eighty patients with chronic subjective tinnitus visiting The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University from January 2016 to December 2017 were recruited, and were divided into an observation group and a control group through computer generated random numbers. Patients in the control group were given drug treatment only, while those in the observation group received TRT in addition to drug treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (SDS), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (SAS) for both groups. Results Patients in the observation group were associated with significantly lower scores of THI, PSQI, SAS and SDS, compared with those in the control group 3 months after treatment (each P<0.05). Furthermore, the effectiveness rate was markedly higher (82.5% or 33 cases vs. 55.0% or 22 cases, χ2=7.040, P<0.01) in the observation group than in the control group 6 months after treatment. Conclusion Tinnitus retraining therapy combined with conventional therapy can help to reduce the severity of tinnitus handicap, ameliorate negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, and improve sleep quality in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus. Key words: Tinnitus; Acclimatization; Sleep disorders; Depression