CBT-based Internet Intervention for Adults With Tinnitus in the United States

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Tinnitus

Interventions: Behavioral: Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Registration Number: NCT04004260

Lead Sponsor: Lamar University

Brief Summary: Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. experience tinnitus, of which about 20 million people have burdensome chronic tinnitus. Tinnitus can be very debilitating as many aspects of daily life can be affected, such as sleep, mood, and concentration. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. Pharmacological or sound-therapy based interventions are sometimes provided, but may be of limited value to certain individuals. Research suggests that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based approaches have the most evidence of effectiveness in the management of tinnitus. However, CBT is rarely offered in the U.S. (less than 1%), partly attributed to a lack of trained professionals who can deliver CBT. To improve access to CBT for tinnitus, and online CBT program has been developed. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a CBT Internet-based intervention for adults with tinnitus in the United States.

Detailed Description: Objective: This study aims to determine the feasibility and efficacy of an Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT) in reducing the impact associated with tinnitus in the United States.

Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that ICBT will result in reduced tinnitus-related distress, decreased sleep disturbance, decreased anxiety and depression, and improved health-related quality of life in a treatment group as compared with adults in the weekly check-in control-group in the U.S. population. The investigators also hypothesize that these results will be stable in both short- and long-term post-intervention.

Design: A two-armed Randomized Control Trial (RCT), with a one-year follow-up design will be used to evaluate the efficacy of ICBT on tinnitus distress.

Setting: This will be an Internet-based study for adults with tinnitus living in the State of Texas, USA.

Participants: Eligible participants will include adults with tinnitus for a minimum period of 3 months with internet access and no major medical or psychiatric conditions. 80 participants will be recruited for each group and will be randomly assigned using a computer-generated randomization schedule by an independent research assistant after being pre-stratified for language and tinnitus severity.

Intervention: The intervention offered is a guided CTB-based internet intervention (ICBT), providing an opportunity to learn about new ways of coping with tinnitus during everyday life. It is 8-week long e-learning intervention, with new modules introduced weekly and assignments are given to practice techniques learned.

Outcome measures: The main outcome measure is the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). Secondary outcome measures are the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS), Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and EuroQol EQ-5D-5L VAS.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 315

Inclusion Criteria

aged 18 years and older living in the State of Texas, USA;
the ability to read and type in English or Spanish;
no barriers to using a computer (e.g. no significant fine motor control or visual problems);
Internet and e-mail access and the ability to use it;
commitment to completing the program;
completion of the online screening and outcome questionnaires;
agreeing to participate in either group and be randomized to one of these groups;
understanding and working towards the end goal of reducing the impact and distress of tinnitus, although the strength of the tinnitus may remain the same;
be available for 12 months after starting the study to complete a 1-year follow-up questionnaire;
suffering with experiencing tinnitus for a minimum period of 3 months; and
tinnitus outcome measure scores indicating the need for tinnitus care [25 or above on the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)].

Exclusion Criteria

reporting any major medical or psychiatric conditions;
reporting pulsatile, objective or unilateral tinnitus, which has not been investigated medically;
tinnitus as a consequence of a medical disorder, still under investigation; and
undergoing any other tinnitus therapy while participating in this study.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental group	Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy	The intervention offered is a guided Internet-based CBT intervention. The intervention is similar to a self-help program, providing an opportunity to learn about new ways of coping with tinnitus during everyday life. It is a 8-week long e-learning intervention, with new modules introduced weekly and assignments are given to practice the techniques learned.
Weekly check-in control group	Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy	The weekly check-in control group will be monitored weekly by means of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-Screening version (THI-S) and the Tinnitus Qualities Questionnaire (TQQ). Once the experimental group completes the ICBT intervention, the control group undertake the same ICBT intervention.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) - Measure of Tinnitus Distress	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention	The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is a 25-item questionnaire that evaluates tinnitus distress. The total possible score ranges from 0-to-100 with higher scores indicate more severe tinnitus distress (i.e., worse outcome). Scores \>25 indicate tinnitus is a significant problem requiring tinnitus intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Hearing Sub-scale; Measure of Hearing Problem	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention	Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problems and the ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating more hearing problem (i.e., worse outcome).
EuroQol EQ-5D-5L VAS Scores; Measure of Health-related Quality of Life	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention	EQ-5D-5L VAS is a single questionnaire that evaluates the health-related quality of life. Responses are marked on a 0-100 scale with higher scores indicate the higher overall health-related quality of life (i.e., better outcome).
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); Measure of Insomnia	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)	Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a 7-item questionnaire that evaluates the severity of insomnia. Responses are marked on a five-point Likert scale (0 to 4). The total score can range from 0 to 28 with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia (i.e., worse outcome).
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Tinnitus Sub-scale; Measure of Tinnitus Problem	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention	Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problems and the ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). The total THS score can range from 0 to 40. However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating more tinnitus problem (i.e., worse outcome).
Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ); Measure of Tinnitus Cognition	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)	Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ) is a 26-item questionnaire that assesses positive and negative cognitions associated with tinnitus. The first 13 items refer to negative thoughts and the second 13 items refer to positive thoughts. Responses are marked on a five-point Likert scale (0 to 4). The negative items (1-13) are scored 0-4, whereas the positive items (14-26) are reverse-scored: 4-0. The scoring procedure involves the simple addition of the number circled by the respondent for items 1-13 and the addition of reverse-scored items 14-26. The total score of the TCQ has a potential range from 0 to 104. A high score represents a greater tendency to engage in negative cognitions (i.e., worse outcome) in response to tinnitus and low engagement in positive cognitions.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); Measure of Depression	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)	Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a 9-item questionnaire that assesses depression severity. Responses are marked on a four-point Likert scale (0 to 3). The total score can range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating more severe depression (i.e., worse outcome).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7); Measure of Anxiety	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)	Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) is a 7-item questionnaire that assesses the severity of anxiety. Responses are marked on a four-point Likert scale (0 to 3). The total score can range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety (i.e., worse outcome).
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Sound Tolerance Sub-scale; Measure of Sound Tolerance	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention	Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problems and the ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 8 with higher scores indicating more sound tolerance problem (i.e., worse outcome).