The relationship of perceived severity of tinnitus with depression, anxiety, hearing status, age and gender in individuals with tinnitus

• Published in: The international tinnitus journal 2013, Vol.18 (1), p.29-34
• Main Authors: Udupi, Venkataraja Aithal, Uppunda, Ajith Kumar, Mohan, Kishan Madikeri, Alex, Johnson, Mahendra, Mythri Haralahalli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Disability Evaluation; Female; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - epidemiology; Hearing Loss - psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Statistics as Topic; Tinnitus - diagnosis; Tinnitus - epidemiology; Tinnitus - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0946-5448
• DOI: 10.5935/0946-5448.20130005

The present study investigated the relationship between the perceived tinnitus severity, depressive and anxiety symptoms in individuals with tinnitus. An attempt was also made to see if any relationship exists between the perceived tinnitus severity and the age, gender or hearing status of the sufferer. Fifty individuals (31 males, 19 females) with tinnitus (age range 19 to 60 years) were enrolled in the study. After the routine pure tone audiometry, each participant completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report-30. A significant correlation (r = 0.585, p pp < 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, age, gender and hearing status did not significantly influence the perceived severity of tinnitus. The results support the view that there is a strong relation between tinnitus and anxiety-depressive symptoms. Further, perceived severity of tinnitus is not influenced by age, gender and hearing status of the individual.