title: The effectiveness of psychological interventions among tinnitus sufferers: A review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this article was to review the types of psychological interventions for patients with tinnitus, professionals involved in giving the intervention, the effectiveness of each method of interventions and comparisons with non-psychological approaches in treating tinnitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed database searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty one articles that employed randomized controlled trials design were included. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was the most common intervention conducted by the researchers. Clinical psychologists and trainee psychologists were the most professionals involved in the therapy. The length of therapy ranged from six weeks to three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological interventions were more effective in reducing psychological impacts of tinnitus than non-psychological interventions such as the use of tinnitus maskers. Nevertheless, the combination of the treatments yielded more superior outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simplified version of psychological intervention that can be implemented by other clinical professionals should be developed to treat tinnitus holistically to overcome the shortage number of clinical psychologists.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Audiology Programme, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. drnikadilah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wan Suhailah
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Audiology Programme, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohd Normani
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Audiology Programme, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Nik Adilah
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Paediatric Department, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azizah
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Audiology Programme, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Aw
authors.affiliation: Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Health Sciences, Audiology Programme, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zuraida