The relationship of perceived severity of tinnitus with depression, anxiety, hearing status, age and gender in individuals with tinnitus

Introduction: The present study investigated the relationship between the perceived tinnitus severity, depressive and anxiety symptoms in individuals with tinnitus. An attempt was also made to see if any relationship exists between the perceived tinnitus severity and the age, gender or hearing status of the sufferer. Materials and Methods: Fifty individuals (31 males, 19 females) with tinnitus (age range 19 to 60 years) were enrolled in the study. After the routine pure tone audiometry, each participant completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report-30. Results: A significant correlation (r = 0.585, p < 0.01) was found between the perceived tinnitus severity, as indicated by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores and depressive symptoms. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores also correlated significantly with both state and trait anxiety levels (r = 0.602, p<0.01; r = 0.426, p < 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, age, gender and hearing status did not significantly influence the perceived severity of tinnitus. Conclusion: The results support the view that there is a strong relation between tinnitus and anxiety-depressive symptoms. Further, perceived severity of tinnitus is not influenced by age, gender and hearing status of the individual.