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. 2022 Feb 16;12(2):275.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci12020275.

Dimensions of Tinnitus-Related Distress

Petra Brueggemann  1 , Wilhelm Mebus  1 , Benjamin Boecking  1 , Nyamaa Amarjargal  1 , Uli Niemann  2 , Myra Spiliopoulou  2 , Christian Dobel  3 , Matthias Rose  4 , Birgit Mazurek  1   2
Affiliations

Dimensions of Tinnitus-Related Distress

Petra Brueggemann et al. Brain Sci. .

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 constructs by means of factor analysis.

Methods: A cohort of 1958 patients of the Charité Tinnitus Center, Berlin completed a large questionnaire battery that comprised sociodemographic data, tinnitus-related distress, general psychological stress experience, emotional symptoms, and somatic complaints. 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 regression model with R2 = 0.7), depressive fatigue symptoms (concentration, sleep, rumination, joy decreased), the experience of emotional strain, somatization tendencies (pain experience, 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 predicted by psychological and sociodemographic indices. Relevant factors seem to be depressive exhaustion with somatic expressions such as sleep and concentration problems, somatization, general psychological stress, and reduced activity, in addition to higher age.

Keywords: comorbidity; factor analysis; predictors; psychological stress; tinnitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Regression model results for the top 10 predictors.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Factor plot (equivalent value and number of factors)—definition of 5 factors.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Conclusion of analysis model and resulting factors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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