title: Relationship between tinnitus and suicidal behaviour in Korean men and women: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviour in a representative sample of South Koreans with or without tinnitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on data from the 2010 to 2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 17 446 Korean individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants provided demographic, socio-economic and behavioural information, as well as responses to questionnaires assessing the presence and severity of tinnitus, mental health status regarding stress, depression, and suicidal ideation and attempts. In the univariate analysis, the Rao-Scott chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to test the association between tinnitus and risk factors. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between tinnitus and mental status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20.9% and 1.2% of participants with tinnitus, and 12.2% and 0.6% of those without, reported suicidal ideation and attempts, respectively (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001). Participants reporting suicide attempts showed a higher proportion of severe annoying (6.0%) and irritating (11.8%) tinnitus than those with suicidal ideation (1.4% and 10.2%, respectively). Risks for experiencing tinnitus were significantly associated with suicidal ideation and attempts after adjusting for confounding variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has important implications for enhanced screening and evaluation of mental health status and suicidal ideation/behaviour among tinnitus patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Joo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000523:psychology*