PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN PATIENTS WITH TINNITUS

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the psychological dist ress in patients with tinnitus that is often correlated with sleeping disorders, difficulties in concentration, and compromized social relat ions. Methods: Eighty-four patients were studied using preliminary cli nical and audiologic evaluations, and successive psychological tests. Results: The cluster analysis indicated two essential groups composed of 45 patients (CLST-1) and 38 patients (CLST-2), respectively. The CL ST-1 group had higher scores for depression, anxiety, and neuroticism. The IBQ CLST-1 revealed a greater degree hypochondria, conviction of disease dysphoria, and irritability. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the relationship between the intensity of the tinnitus and the e xtent of the distress is supported by the larger number of patients wi th more intense tinnitus in the first cluster. The CLST-2 with its nor mal psychological test results, apart from marked denial, would suppor t the hypothesis of a somatic expression of the distress.