The efficacy of individual treatment of subjective tinnitus with cognitive behavioural therapy

Abstract

Introduction: It has been a long time since subjective tinnitus cases were described for the first time but they still lack a treatment with proven effectiveness. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in these patients.

Patients and method: Between 2012 and 2013, 310 patients that suffered from subjective tinnitus were studied. Of these, 267 were included in treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy. The monitoring period lasted 18 months for most cases, while it lasted 21 months for 11 patients.

Results: Considering patients that interrupted their treatment as failures, the percentage of recovery was 95.7%.

Conclusion: Cognitive behavioural therapy should always be included in the treatment of people suffering from tinnitus.

Keywords: Acúfenos subjetivos; Cognitive behavioural therapy; Entrevista psicológica; Psychologist interview; Subjective tinnitus; Terapia cognitiva-conductual.