Multisensory environmental sensitivity in patients with chronic tinnitus

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Laura Danioth - , Inselspital - Universitätsspital Bern (Autor:in)
  • Gladys Brotschi - , Inselspital - Universitätsspital Bern (Autor:in)
  • Ilona Croy - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Hergen Friedrich - , Inselspital - Universitätsspital Bern (Autor:in)
  • Marco-Domenico Caversaccio - , Inselspital - Universitätsspital Bern (Autor:in)
  • Simona Negoias - , Inselspital - Universitätsspital Bern (Autor:in)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at investigating the sensitivity to noise and chemosensory environmental stressors as well as the relation to perceived stress, depression and anxiety in subjects with chronic tinnitus as compared to subjects without tinnitus.

METHODS: We included 75 subjects with chronic tinnitus and 75 age and sex-matched subjects without tinnitus. Standardized questionnaires assessing the level of distress and impairment of quality of life caused by tinnitus, perceived level of stress, anxiety and depression, environmental noise and chemosensory sensitivity were used. A subgroup of 27 subjects with chronic tinnitus and 20 age-matched subjects without tinnitus underwent testing of olfactory function with the Sniffin' Sticks test and testing of intranasal trigeminal function using CO2 thresholds.

RESULTS: Our data confirmed the increased environmental noise sensitivity (NSS) in patients with tinnitus. Furthermore, we observed an increased environmental chemosensory sensitivity (CSS), but no difference in measured chemosensory function. Subjects with tinnitus showed also significant higher levels of perceived stress, anxiety and depression and those symptoms partially correlated to CSS and NSS. Predictors of both NSS and CSS results were the presence / absence of tinnitus and high anxiety levels while neither stress nor depression were found as predicting variables.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that chronic tinnitus is related to a multisensory environmental hypersensitivity. Anxiety seems to be a predictor of this environmental vulnerability.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)110155
FachzeitschriftJournal of psychosomatic research
Jahrgang135
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Aug. 2020
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85086098423

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Adult, Anxiety/complications, Chronic Disease/psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Sensation, Smell, Surveys and Questionnaires, Tinnitus/complications, Trigeminal Nerve/physiopathology, Young Adult