- Sep 29, 2016
- 9
- Tinnitus Since
- 2003 (spike in 2016 after ear infection)
- Cause of Tinnitus
- TMJ
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.
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.
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.
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.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...-of-tinnitus/44E8421E74029C4970D53FFA26025004
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Interesting study I thought as they only delivered 5 intervention sessions for each group and the benefits were seen at the conclusion of the study, whereas in some other mindfulness studies the benefits DURING the treatment period were minimal, but increased significantly over the followup period as participants continued their practice.
The participants had intrusive tinnitus and on average their pre-treatment loudness was just under 7/10. There are many thoughts on how 'severe' is 'severe' on this forum but I'd say thats definitely "moderate" tinnitus or greater.
Drop out rates were reasonable, especially for a mind-body research program in a distressed population. The findings in the mindfulness group of a ~ 50% reduction in tinnitus awareness & also in tinnitus severity was impressive, but even more so a 2 point (on a 0-10 scale) on tinnitus loudness itself was pretty significant given that many interventions reduce awareness or distress but not loudness. Most of the tests were between group rather than pre-post, which is a shame as it would be interesting to see which were significantly different from baseline, as the relaxation group is an active control, rather than a placebo. While the trial had reasonable numbers for a mind-body intervention, the small numbers would also have prevented possible between group differences from being significant.
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.
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.
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.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...-of-tinnitus/44E8421E74029C4970D53FFA26025004
--
Interesting study I thought as they only delivered 5 intervention sessions for each group and the benefits were seen at the conclusion of the study, whereas in some other mindfulness studies the benefits DURING the treatment period were minimal, but increased significantly over the followup period as participants continued their practice.
The participants had intrusive tinnitus and on average their pre-treatment loudness was just under 7/10. There are many thoughts on how 'severe' is 'severe' on this forum but I'd say thats definitely "moderate" tinnitus or greater.
Drop out rates were reasonable, especially for a mind-body research program in a distressed population. The findings in the mindfulness group of a ~ 50% reduction in tinnitus awareness & also in tinnitus severity was impressive, but even more so a 2 point (on a 0-10 scale) on tinnitus loudness itself was pretty significant given that many interventions reduce awareness or distress but not loudness. Most of the tests were between group rather than pre-post, which is a shame as it would be interesting to see which were significantly different from baseline, as the relaxation group is an active control, rather than a placebo. While the trial had reasonable numbers for a mind-body intervention, the small numbers would also have prevented possible between group differences from being significant.
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