Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:16:36.120Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Clinical efficacy of tinnitus retraining therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of subjective tinnitus: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2014

R Grewal
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
P M Spielmann
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
S E M Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
S S M Hussain*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Prof S S M Hussain, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK Fax: +44 1382 632816 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of two frequently employed interventions for the management of tinnitus: tinnitus retraining therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Method:

A systematic review of literature published up to and including February 2013 was performed. Only randomised control trials and studies involving only human participants were included.

Results:

Nine high-quality studies evaluating the efficacy of tinnitus retraining therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy were identified. Of these, eight assessed cognitive behavioural therapy relative to a no-treatment control and one compared tinnitus retraining therapy to tinnitus masking therapy. Each study used a variety of standardised and validated questionnaires. Outcome measures were heterogeneous, but both therapies resulted in significant improvements in quality of life scores. Depression scores improved with cognitive behavioural therapy.

Conclusion:

Both cognitive behavioural therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy are effective for tinnitus, with neither therapy being demonstrably superior. Further research using standardised, validated questionnaires is needed so that objective comparisons can be made.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Hoare, DJ, Kowalkowski, VL, Kang, S, Hall, DA. Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials examining tinnitus management. Laryngoscope 2011;121:1555–64Google Scholar
2Phillips, JS, McFerran, D. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) for tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(3):CD007330Google Scholar
3Jastreboff, PJ, Jastreboff, MM. Tinnitus retraining therapy for patients with tinnitus and decreased sound tolerance. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2003;36:321–36Google Scholar
4Henry, JA, Schechter, MA, Zaugg, TL, Griest, S, Jastreboff, PJ, Vernon, JA et al. Clinical trial to compare tinnitus masking and tinnitus retraining therapy. Acta Otolaryngol 2006;556:64–9Google Scholar
5Henry, JA, Jastreboff, MM, Jastreboff, PJ, Schechter, MA, Fausti, SA. Assessment of patients for treatment with tinnitus retraining therapy. J Am Acad Audiol 2002;13:523–44Google Scholar
6Henry, JA, Schecter, MA, Nagler, SM, Fausti, SA. Comparison of tinnitus masking and tinnitus retraining therapy. J Am Acad Audiol 2002;13:559–81Google Scholar
7Kröner-Herwig, B, Biesinger, E, Gerhards, F, Goebel, G, Verena Greimel, K, Hiller, W. Retraining therapy for chronic tinnitus. A critical analysis of its status. Scand Audiol 2000;29:6778Google Scholar
8Wilson, PH, Henry, JL, Andersson, G, Hallam, RS, Lindberg, P. A critical analysis of directive counseling as a component of tinnitus retraining therapy. Br J Audiol 1998;32:273–86Google Scholar
9Andersson, G, Lyttkens, L. A meta-analytic review of psychological treatments for tinnitus. Br J Audiol 1998;33:201–10Google Scholar
10Andersson, G, Porsaeus, D, Wiklund, M, Kaldo, V, Larsen, HC. Treatment of tinnitus in the elderly: a controlled trial of cognitive behavior therapy. Int J Audiol 2005;44:671–5Google Scholar
11Henry, JL, Wilson, PH. The psychological management of tinnitus: comparison of a combined cognitive educational program, education alone and a waiting-list control. Int Tinnitus J 1996;2:920Google Scholar
12Kaldo, V, Cars, S, Rahnert, M, Larsen, HC, Andersson, G. Use of a self-help book with weekly therapist contact to reduce tinnitus distress: a randomized controlled trial. J Psychosom Res 2007;63:195202Google Scholar
13Kröner-Herwig, B, Hebing, G, Van Rijn-Kalkman, U, Frenzel, A, Schilkowsky, G, Esser, G. The management of chronic tinnitus—comparison of a cognitive-behavioural group training with yoga. J Psychosom Res 1995;39:153–65Google Scholar
14Kröner-Herwig, B, Frenzel, A, Fritsche, G, Schilkowsky, G, Esser, G. The management of chronic tinnitus: comparison of an outpatient cognitive-behavioral group training to minimal-contact interventions. Journal Pyschosom Res 2003;54:381–9Google Scholar
15Rief, W, Weise, C, Kley, N, Martin, A. Psychophysiologic treatment of chronic tinnitus: a randomized clinical trial. Psychosom Med 2005;67:833–8Google Scholar
16Weise, C, Heinecke, K, Rief, W. Biofeedback-based behavioural treatment for chronic tinnitus: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol 2008;76:1046–57Google Scholar
17Zachriat, C, Kröner-Herwig, B. Treating chronic tinnitus: comparison of cognitive-behavioural and habituation-based treatments. Cogn Behav Ther 2004;33:187–98CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Abbott, JA, Kaldo, V, Klein, B, Austin, D, Hamilton, C, Piterman, L et al. A cluster randomised trial of an internet based intervention program for tinnitus distress in an industrial setting. Cogn Behav Ther 2009;38:162–73Google Scholar
19Andersson, G, Stromgren, T, Strom, L, Lyttkens, L. Randomized controlled trial of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for distress associated with tinnitus. Psychosom Med 2002;64:810–16Google ScholarPubMed
20Caffier, PP, Haupt, H, Scherer, H, Mazurek, B. Outcomes of long-term outpatient tinnitus coping therapy: psychometric changes and value of tinnitus-control instruments. Ear Hear 2006;27:619–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Goebel, G, Rübler, D, Stepputat, F, Hiller, W, Heuser, J, Fichter, MM. Controlled prospective study of tinnitus retraining therapy compared to tinnitus coping therapy and broad-band noise generator therapy. In: Hazell, JWP, ed. Proceedings of the Sixth International Tinnitus Seminar. Cambridge, UK. Oxford University Press, 1999;5–9Google Scholar
22Schmitt, C, Kröner-Herwig, B. Comparison of tinnitus coping training and TRT: are they superior to education? In: Patuzzi, R, ed. Proceedings of the 7th International Tinnitus Seminar; University of Western Australia, Freemantle, Australia, 5–7 March. University of Western Australia, 2002Google Scholar
23Higgins, JPT, Green, S, eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011.Google Scholar
24Moher, D, Olkin, I. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. A concern for standards. JAMA 1995;274:1962–4Google Scholar