Dimensions of Tinnitus-Related Distress

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To determine which psychosocial aspects predict tinnitus-related distress in a large self-reported dataset of patients with chronic tinnitus, and (2) to identify underlying con-structs by means of factor analysis. Methods: A cohort of 1958 patients of the Charité Tinnitus Cen-ter, Berlin completed a large questionnaire battery that comprised sociodemographic data, tinnitus-related distress, general psychological stress experience, emotional symptoms, and somatic com-plaints. To identify a construct of “tinnitus-related distress”, significant predictive items were grouped using factor analysis. Results: For the prediction of tinnitus-related distress (linear regres-sion model with R2 = 0.7), depressive fatigue symptoms (concentration, sleep, rumination, joy de-creased), the experience of emotional strain, somatization tendencies (pain, doctor contacts), and age appeared to play a role. The factor analysis revealed five factors: “stress”, “pain experience”, “fatigue”, “autonomy”, and low “educational level”. Conclusions: Tinnitus-related distress is pre-dicted by psychological and sociodemographic indices. Relevant factors seem to be depressive ex-haustion with somatic expressions such as sleep and concentration problems, somatization, general psychological stress, and reduced activity, in addition to higher age.