Greater tinnitus severity was independently associated with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms among patients with chronic tinnitus, with nearly one-third meeting criteria for moderate-to-severe mood symptoms.
In a cross-sectional study of 100 adult patients with chronic subjective tinnitus treated at a tertiary otolaryngology clinic, researchers evaluated symptom burden using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory–II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Tinnitus severity was moderately correlated with both depressive and anxiety symptoms and remained independently associated following adjustment for age, sex, and hearing status.
Mean scores were 47 for tinnitus handicap, 16 for depression, and 20 for anxiety. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were identified in 28% of patients and anxiety symptoms in 31%. In adjusted models, tinnitus severity accounted for 25% of the variation in depressive symptoms and 21% in anxiety symptoms.
Patients with severe tinnitus had 3.1 times the odds of moderate-to-severe depression and 2.8 times the odds of moderate-to-severe anxiety compared with those with mild tinnitus.
The cohort had a mean age of 49 years, 58% were female, and 70% had clinically significant hearing loss. Tinnitus duration averaged 32 months, and no statistically significant associations were observed between mood symptoms and age or tinnitus duration.
The researchers noted that the cross-sectional design limits causal inference and that the single-center setting, lack of a control group, and reliance on self-reported measures may limit generalizability.
“Greater tinnitus severity is independently associated with elevated symptom severity of depression and anxiety,” wrote Enes Sırma of University of Health Sciences Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey, and colleagues.
Disclosures: The researchers reported no conflicts of interest.