title: Psychophysiologic treatment of chronic tinnitus: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tinnitus seems to be associated with psychophysiological over-activation (e.g., of head and shoulder muscles). Therefore we aimed to develop and evaluate a new intervention program including a psychophysiological approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three tinnitus sufferers were randomized to 2 groups, one receiving a psychophysiologically oriented intervention lasting 7 intervention sessions (plus 2 assessment sessions), whereas the other group waited for a comparable time period. Afterward, patients on the waiting list also received the intervention. Physiological variables were muscle activity of head and shoulders and electrodermal activity. Psychological assessments took place at pretreatment, post-treatment, and 6 months later. Follow-up data were available from 95% of participants. Major outcome variables were self-rating scales (e.g., tinnitus annoyance assessed by the Tinnitus Questionnaire), and diary data (self-control, daily time of perceiving the tinnitus).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On most tinnitus specific variables, patients in the treatment group improved significantly more than patients on the waiting list. Main effect sizes for tinnitus-specific variables were up to 0.89. Muscle reactivity of head muscles at the beginning predicted significant treatment effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with meta-analytical reviews of psychological interventions for tinnitus sufferers, the presented treatment is brief and in the upper range of effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Marburg, Germany. rief@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weise
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kley
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006266:Health Education; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011603:Psychophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists