title: [Counselling versus a self-help manual for tinnitus outpatients: a comparison of effectiveness].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Counselling is a basic psychological intervention for chronic tinnitus the effectiveness of which has not yet been evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The therapeutic effect of counselling was compared to that of a self-help manual. Outcome was analysed for tinnitus disability, tendency to become chronic, and accompanying psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 tinnitus outpatients were randomly assigned to group counselling (n=35) and self-help (n=40). Tinnitus disability, general psychological disturbances, depression, anxiety, coping and illness beliefs were measured using questionnaires (TQ, SCL-90-R, BDI, BAI, FKV, KKG) administered before and after treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Psychiatric disorders (DSM-IV) were assessed using the CIDI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Counselling and the self-help manual had a significant effect on tinnitus disability, showing most profit for participants with a high level of tinnitus distress. The significant reduction in tinnitus distress was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. There was, however, no difference between the two treatment-groups. Effect-sizes for patients with DSM-IV-diagnoses were smaller.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For tinnitus outpatients without psychiatric comorbidity, self-help manuals can be an effective first treatment.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Halle. tom.konzag@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Konzag
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rübler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bloching
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bandemer-Greulich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fikentscher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frommer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D016896:Treatment Outcome