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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group psychotherapy, founded on a psychodynamic, interpersonal approach and influenced by techniques used in cognitive behavioural therapy, in alleviating severe refractory tinnitus as well as psychiatric symptoms. Consecutive tinnitus patients without socially disabling hearing loss were recruited if they fulfilled risk criteria for developing severe refractory tinnitus based on a screening procedure with established validity. Thirty-seven patients participated in the group psychotherapy and were compared to patients (n =38) not receiving group therapy, who were primarily recruited to participate in a placebo-controlled study of the effects of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Changes in the severity of tinnitus, anxiety and depression were the main outcomes. Assessments were performed at entry, after 12 weeks treatment, and for the psychotherapy group only, at follow-up three months after the intervention period. Between-group comparisons of change scores over 12 weeks showed no difference between treatment groups. Comparisons within the groups revealed no benefits at the end of the intervention period, but at follow-up a significant improvement in anxiety (p<0.01) was recorded for the psychotherapy group. The findings suggest that short-term group psychotherapy in severe refractory tinnitus is beneficial in terms of anxiety reduction. Group psychotherapy may also contribute to a raised awareness of the existence of a close association between emotional/physical arousal and tinnitus suffering.