[Psychological comorbidity in subacute and chronic tinnitus outpatients].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to assess psychosomatic symptoms and comorbidity in a group of tinnitus out-patients and their correlation with tinnitus distress.


METHODS
32 subacute (duration 3-12 months) and 71 chronic tinnitus patients participated in the study. Questionnaires were used to assess tinnitus distress (German version of the TQ, VAS), psychosomatic symptoms (SCL-90-R, BDI, BAI) coping strategies (KKG, FKV), social support (F-SOZU) and interpersonal problems (IIP-D).


RESULTS
56 % of subjects met the criteria for a disorder according to DSM-IV (CIDI). Compared to the general population, there is a particularly high comorbidity with anxiety and somatoform disorders. Tinnitus distress was related to depression (BDI), tinnitus loudness and disturbance of activities (59 % explained variance). There were no substantial differences between subacute and chronic tinnitus.


CONCLUSIONS
The results stress the importance of diagnostic investigation of comorbidity and psychosomatic symptoms already at the subacute stage in tinnitus patients.
Konzag
Tom Alexander
TA
Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Halle, Julius-Kuhn-Strasse 7, D-06112 Halle, Germany. tom.konzag@medizin.uni-halle.de
Rübler
Diana
D
Bandemer-Greulich
Ulrike
U
Frommer
Jörg
J
Fikentscher
Erdmuthe
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*