Tinnitus masking and depression

Abstract

In this pilot study 30 patients with annoying tinnitus completed tinnitus matching and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A cluster analysis revealed three clusters of patients. Cluster one had relatively low depression and average results on tinnitus parameters. Cluster two displayed high depression scores and lower results on tinnitus parameters. The last small cluster had high depression scores and high results on tinnitus and hearing parameters. A curvilinear regression showed a U-shaped relation between the BDI and minimal masking level. The results are interpreted according to a diathesis stress model, in which a vulnerable person might develop tinnitus distress following a comparatively low degree of tinnitus and a more stress-tolerant person might bear higher degrees of tinnitus before seeking help. As a conclusion this may have implications for what treatment to recommend and most certainly should be accounted for in the assessment of patients.