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Original Article

Psychiatric Disorders in Tinnitus Patients without Severe Hearing Impairment: 24 Month Follow-up of Patients at an Audiological Clinic: Alteraciones psiquiátricas en pacientes con tinnitus sin hipoacusia severa: Seguimiento durante 24 meses en una clínica audiólogica

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Pages 133-140 | Received 01 Jul 2000, Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

The relationship between tinnitus and psychiatric disorders has long been recognised. We have addressed this question by investigating the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis in a consecutive series of tinnitus patients (n = 82) without severe socially disabling hearing loss referred to an audiological clinic. The psychiatric evaluation was based on a standardised diagnostic interview (SCID-P) in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM-III-R) and on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD Scale). An experienced psychiatrist performed the interview 24 months after the patient's first visit to the clinic. Lifetime depressive and anxiety disorders were recorded in 62 per cent and 45 per cent of the cases respectively, but only 34 per cent had had contact with any healthcare institution for emotional disturbances. Only 7 per cent reported that they had tinnitus prior to their depressive and/or anxiety disorders. We conclude that it is of great importance to identify these emotional disturbances in patients suffering from tinnitus.

La relación entre tinnitus y las alteraciones psiquiátricas ha sido ampliamente reconocida. Nos hemos acercado a este tema investigando la prevalencia de diagnóstico psiquiátrico en una serie consecutiva de pacientes sin hipoacusia severa (n=582) referidos a una clinica audiológica. La evaluateón psiquiátrica se basó en una entrevista diagnóstica estandarizada (SCID-P) de acuerdo con el Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de Desórdenes Mentales (DSM-IIIR) y con la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria (HAD scale). Un psiquiatra experimentado condujo la entrevista 24 meses después de la primera visita de cada paciente a la clínica. 62% de los pacientes presentaban alteraciones depresivas y 42%, ansiedad de larga evolutión, pero sólo el 34% había tenido contacto con alguna instituteón de salud especializada. Sólo un 7% reportaron que tenían el tinnitus antes de inicíar con los problemas de ansiedad o depresion. Concluimos que es sumamente importante identificar estas alteraciones emocionales en los pacientes con tinnitus.

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