Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:41:18.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A randomised controlled study of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation therapy in the management of tinnitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2017

M Arif ,
M Sadlier ,
D Rajenderkumar ,
J James  and
T Tahir
M Arif*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, UK
M Sadlier
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
D Rajenderkumar
Affiliation:
Welsh Hearing Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
J James
Affiliation:
Department of Physiotherapy, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, UK
T Tahir
Affiliation:
Department of Liaison Psychiatry, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Mohamed Arif, Department of ENT, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen SA31 2AF, Wales, UK E-mail: arif9164@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Psychotherapeutic interventions have been adopted effectively in the management of tinnitus for a long time. This study compared mindfulness meditation and relaxation therapy for management of tinnitus.

Methods:

In this randomised controlled trial, patients were recruited for five sessions of mindfulness meditation or five sessions of relaxation therapy. Patients’ responses were evaluated using the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire as a primary outcome measure, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, visual analogue scale and a health status indicator as secondary outcome measures.

Results:

A total of 86 patients were recruited. Thirty-four patients completed mindfulness meditation and 27 patients completed relaxation therapy. Statistically significant improvement was seen in all outcome measures except the health status indicator in both treatment groups. The change in treatment scores was greater in the mindfulness meditation group than in the relaxation therapy group.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that although both mindfulness meditation and relaxation therapy are effective in the management of tinnitus, mindfulness meditation is superior to relaxation therapy.

Keywords

MeditationRelaxation TherapyTinnitus
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 131 , Issue 6 , June 2017 , pp. 501 - 507
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2017 

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

1 McFadden, D. Tinnitus: Facts, Theories, and Treatments. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1982 Google Scholar
2 Heller, AJ. Classification and epidemiology of tinnitus. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2003;36:239–48Google Scholar
3 Hoare, 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
4 Jastreboff, PJ, Hazell, JW. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008 Google Scholar
5 Axelsson, A, Ringdahl, A. Tinnitus--a study of its prevalence and characteristics. Br J Audiol 1989;23:53–62 Google Scholar
6 Davies, A, El Refaie, A. Epidemiology of tinnitus. In: Tyler, RS, ed. Tinnitus Handbook. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group, 2000;24 Google Scholar
7 Kreuzer, PM, Goetz, M, Holl, M, Schecklmann, M, Landgrebe, M, Staudinger, S et al. Mindfulness- and body-psychotherapy-based group treatment of chronic tinnitus: a randomized controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med 2012;12:235 Google Scholar
8 Shailer, MJ, Tyler, RS, Coles, RR. Critical masking bands for sensorineural tinnitus. Scand Audiol 1981;10:157–62Google Scholar
9 Robinson, SK, Viirre, ES, Bailey, KA, Kindermann, S, Minassian, AL, Goldin, PR et al. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavior therapy for tinnitus. Int Tinnitus J 2008;14:119–26Google ScholarPubMed
10 Henry, JA, Dennis, KC, Schechter, MA. General review of tinnitus: prevalence, mechanisms, effects, and management. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2005;48:1204–35Google Scholar
11 Eggermont, JJ, Roberts, LE. The neuroscience of tinnitus. Trends Neurosci 2004;27:676–82Google Scholar
12 Kröner-Herwig, B, Zachriat, C, Weigand, D. Do patient characteristics predict outcome in the outpatient treatment of chronic tinnitus? Psychosoc Med 2006;3:Doc07Google Scholar
13 Gold, JR, Bajo, VM. Insult-induced adaptive plasticity of the auditory system. Front Neurosci 2014;8:110 Google Scholar
14 Auerbach, BD, Rodriques, PV, Salvi, RJ. Central gain control in tinnitus and hyperacusis. Front Neurol 2014;5:206 Google Scholar
15 Hobson, J, Chisholm, E, El Refaie, A. Sound therapy (masking) in the management of tinnitus in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;(11):CD006371Google Scholar
16 Jastreboff, PJ, Hazell, JW. A neurophysiological approach to tinnitus: clinical implications. Br J Audiol 1993;27:7–17 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Langguth, B, Kreuzer, PM, Kleinjung, T, De Ridder, D. Tinnitus: causes and clinical management. Lancet Neurol 2013;12:920–30Google Scholar
18 Kaldo, V, Haak, T, Buhrman, M, Alfonsson, S, Larsen, HC, Andersson, G. Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for tinnitus patients delivered in a regular clinical setting: outcome and analysis of treatment dropout. Cogn Behav Ther 2013;42:146–58CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19 Kaldo-Sandström, V, Larsen, HC, Andersson, G. Internet-based cognitive-behavioral self-help treatment of tinnitus: clinical effectiveness and predictors of outcome. Am J Audiol 2004;13:185–92Google Scholar
20 Weber, C, Arck, P, Mazurek, B, Klapp, BF. Impact of a relaxation training on psychometric and immunologic parameters in tinnitus sufferers. J Psychosom Res 2002;52:29–33 Google Scholar
21 Gans, J, O'Sullivan, P, Bircheff, V. Mindfulness based tinnitus stress reduction pilot study. Mindfulness 2014;5:322–33Google Scholar
22 Martinez-Devesa, P, Perera, R, Theodoulou, M, Waddell, A. Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010;(9):CD005233Google Scholar
23 Sadlier, M, Stephens, SD, Kennedy, V. Tinnitus rehabilitation: a mindfulness meditation cognitive behavioural therapy approach. J Laryngol Otol 2008;122:31–7Google Scholar
24 Wilson, PH. Classical conditioning as the basis for the effective treatment of tinnitus-related distress. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2006;68:6–11; discussion 3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25 Cooper, SJ. Donald O. Hebb's synapse and learning rule: a history and commentary. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2005;28:851–74Google Scholar
26 Sullivan, MJ, Wood, L, Terry, J, Brantley, J, Charles, A, McGee, V et al. The Support, Education, and Research in Chronic Heart Failure Study (SEARCH): a mindfulness-based psychoeducational intervention improves depression and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure. Am Heart J 2009;157:84–90 Google Scholar
27 Ost, LG, Breitholtz, E. Applied relaxation vs. cognitive therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Behav Res Ther 2000;38:777–90Google Scholar
28 Ost, L. Applied relaxation: description of a coping technique and review of controlled studies. Behav Res Ther 1987;25:397–409 Google Scholar
29 Wilson, PH, Henry, J, Bowen, M, Haralambous, G. Tinnitus reaction questionnaire: psychometric properties of a measure of distress associated with tinnitus. J Speech Hear Res 1991;34:197–201 Google Scholar
30 Zigmond, AS, Snaith, RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1983;67:361–70Google Scholar
31 Andersson, G, Strömgren, T, Ström, L, Lyttkens, L. Randomized controlled trial of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for distress associated with tinnitus. Psychosom Med 2002;64:810–16Google Scholar
32 Ireland, CE, Wilson, PH, Tonkin, JP, Platt-Hepworth, S. An evaluation of relaxation training in the treatment of tinnitus. Behav Res Ther 1985;23:423–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33 Philippot, P, Nef, F, Clauw, L, de Romrée, M, Segal, Z. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for treating tinnitus. Clin Psychol Psychother 2012;19:411–19Google Scholar
34 Kearney, DJ, McDermott, K, Martinez, M, Simpson, TL. Association of participation in a mindfulness programme with bowel symptoms, gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety and quality of life. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011;34:363–73Google Scholar