Evaluating the relationship between tinnitus intensity, noise sensitivity, health anxiety and depression in adult individuals with tinnitus complaints

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the relationship between tinnitus intensity, noise sensitivity, health anxiety and depression in adult individuals with tinnitus complaints. 190 individuals aged 19 and over and having tinnitus complaints for at least one year were included in the study. In the study, the General Information Form, Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire, Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale, Health Anxiety Inventory and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale Short Form were used and delivered to the participants online. SPSS 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for the statistical analyses. The mean scores of individuals with tinnitus complaint were 49.73±29.40 for Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire, 56.82±17.94 for Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale, 19.96±13.90 for Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale Short Form, 18.33±9.69 for Health Anxiety Inventory. Tinnitus intensity of 28.6% of people with noise sensitivity was very mild, 12.7% was very severe. A positive correlation was found between the total score of the Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire and the scores of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale Short Form. A negative correlation was found between the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale scores and the total score of the Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire. There was a statistically significant difference between the upper 1/3, lower 1/3 and middle classification values of the Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale total scores and the Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire classification groups. A positive correlation was found between the total score of the Tinnitus Disability Questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Inventory and its sub-dimensions (p<0.05). There was a correlation between the intensity of tinnitus perceived by individuals and depression and health anxiety. A negative relationship was found in noise sensitivity with tinnitus intensity and depression. A significant difference was found between the classification values of the noise sensitivity groups and the tinnitus severity classification groups. Considering our findings, the intervention is thought to affect the process for tinnitus positively. Prospective controlled studies are needed to investigate the causal relationship.