The distressed (Type D) personality is independently associated with tinnitus: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Tinnitus is a common and disturbing condition, reported by 10% to 20% of the general population.


OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to determine personality characteristics associated with tinnitus patients versus a control group of ear-nose-throat (ENT) patients without tinnitus.


METHODS
Adult chronic tinnitus sufferers (N=265) and ENT patients without tinnitus (N=265) participated in a cross-sectional study. The authors evaluated personality characteristics with tests for distressed personality (Type D), neuroticism, extraversion, and emotional stability.


RESULTS
As compared with control subjects, tinnitus patients had statistically significant and clinically relevant higher levels of neuroticism, negative affectivity, and social inhibition, on one hand, and lower levels of extraversion and emotional stability on the other hand. Also, tinnitus patients were more likely to have a type D personality.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroticism, reduced extraversion, and reduced emotional stability were associated with tinnitus, but the level of prediction of the model improved with the addition of type D personality to the single traits. This might indicate that personality characteristics, and type D personality, in particular, are associated with having tinnitus and might contribute to its perceived severity.
Bartels
Hilke
H
University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. h.bartels@kno.umcg.nl
Middel
Berrie
B
Pedersen
Susanne S
SS
Staal
Michiel J
MJ
Albers
Frans W J
FW
D000339:Affect; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000523:psychology*