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Internet-based Self-help for Tinnitus: The Role of Support

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Tinnitus
Interventions
Behavioral: iCBT (internet-based, cognitive-behavioural therapy)
Registration Number
NCT01927991
Lead Sponsor
Philipps University Marburg Medical Center
Brief Summary

Internet-based cognitive behavioural self-help (iCBT) has become increasingly popular to provide psychotherapy. For several psychological and psychosomatic disorders, treatment efficacy was shown. Previously, iCBT has also been applied to patients suffering from tinnitus and results show significant and long-term stable improvements in tinnitus distress. However, the role of therapeutic support in iCBT has not been thoroughly investigated. Previous results suggest that iCBT without therapeutic support is less effective and leads to higher dropout rates than therapist-guided iCBT. The aim of the randomized controlled trial is thus to investigate the role of therapeutic support in an iCBT for tinnitus sufferers.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
112
Inclusion Criteria
  • tinnitus duration of more than 6 months
  • severe or most severe tinnitus distress
  • age of at least 18 years
  • fluent in German
Exclusion Criteria
  • psychosis, severe psychological disorder, risk for suicide
  • prior participation in associated study
  • medical disorder as reason for tinnitus, i.e. morbus ménière

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
iCBT with therapeutic supportiCBT (internet-based, cognitive-behavioural therapy)Participants work with the online self-help and receive additional therapeutic support on demand
iCBT without therapeutic supportiCBT (internet-based, cognitive-behavioural therapy)Participants work with the online self-help on their own and do not receive additional therapeutic support
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in tinnitus distress1 year; pre, post, 6-mo-follow-up

Assessment of tinnitus distress with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ)

Newman, C. W., Jacobson, G. P., \& Spitzer, J. B. (1996). Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 122(2), 143-148.

Hiller, W., \& Goebel, G. (2004). Rapid assessment of tinnitus-related psychological distress using the Mini-TQ. Int J Audiol, 43(10), 600-604.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in depressive Symptoms1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up

Assessment of depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., \& Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med, 16(9), 606-613. 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x

Zigmond, A. S., \& Snaith, R. P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 67(6), 361-370.

Change in tinnitus-related thoughts1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up

Assessment of dysfunctional tinnitus-related thoughts with the Tinnitus Cognitions Scale (T-Cog)

Hiller, W., \& Haerkötter, C. (2005). Does sound stimulation have additive effects on cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronic tinnitus? Behav Res Ther, 43(5), 595-612.

Change of tinnitus acceptance1 year; pre, post, 6mo-follow-up

Assessment of tinnitus acceptance with the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire (TAQ)

Weise, C., Kleinstauber, M., Hesser, H., Westin, V. Z., \& Andersson, G. (2013). Acceptance of tinnitus: validation of the tinnitus acceptance questionnaire. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 42(2), 100-115. 10.1080/16506073.2013.781670

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Philipps University Marburg, Dept. of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

🇩🇪

Marburg, Hessen, Germany

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