Psychologic profile of tinnitus patients using the SCL-90-R and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R results on a group of tinnitus patients and to compare the average scores of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and SCL-90-R for help-seeking and non-help-seeking patients with tinnitus.


METHODS
A prospective study in which tinnitus patients were administered the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Patients with tinnitus seeking audiological services.


METHODS
Rehabilitative.


METHODS
Results of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Symptom Checklist-90-R.


RESULTS
Fifty-three consecutive patients having tinnitus were administered the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R. There was a significant correlation between the Symptom Checklist-90-R and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (rs = 0.43). Furthermore, 25% of these patients scored abnormally high on the Symptom Checklist-90-R, which is substantially more than the general medical population of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this sample of 53 patients, the Symptom Checklist-90-R does seem to be a useful tool in identifying distress among tinnitus patients. The Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist-90-R has a defined cutoff score indicating significant distress levels, which makes it a useful screening tool for identifying those who would benefit from psychologic or psychiatric intervention.
Division of Audiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. lynn.susan@mayo.edu
Susan G
SG
Lynn
Christopher D
CD
Bauch
Donald E
DE
Williams
Charles W
CW
Beatty
Michael W
MW
Mellon
Amy L
AL
Weaver
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*