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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04335812

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus Sufferers

Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. experience tinnitus, of which about 20 million people have burdensome chronic tinnitus. Tinnitus can be very debilitating as many aspects of daily life can be affected, such as sleep, mood, and concentration. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus. Pharmacological or sound-therapy based interventions are sometimes provided but may be of limited value to certain individuals. Research suggests that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) based approaches have the most evidence of effectiveness in the management of tinnitus. However, CBT is rarely offered to tinnitus sufferers in the U.S. (less than 1%), partly because of lack of trained professionals who can deliver CBT. To improve access to CBT for tinnitus, an online CBT program has been developed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if the full CBT administered via the Internet results in better outcomes when compared to relaxation only CBT administered via the Internet for adults with tinnitus in the United States.

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Key information

Conditions

Tinnitus Ear Diseases Hearing Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas, 77705, United States

About this study

Objective: To examine the difference in outcomes of relaxation-based Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (R-ICBT) versus full version of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (F-ICBT) for tinnitus sufferers.

Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that F-ICBT (experimental group) is superior when compared to R-ICBT (control group) in reducing the tinnitus-related distress, decreasing sleep disturbance, decreasing anxiety and depression, and improving health-related quality of life. The investigators also hypothesize that these results will be stable in both short- and long-term post-intervention.

Design: A two-armed Randomized Control Trial (RCT), with a one-year follow-up design will be used to evaluate the efficacy of F-ICBT and R-ICBT on tinnitus distress.

Setting: This will be an Internet-based study for adults with tinnitus living in the USA.

Participants: Eligible participants will include adults with tinnitus for a minimum period of 3 months with internet access and no major medical or psychiatric conditions. 100 participants will be recruited for each group and will be randomly assigned using a computer-generated randomization schedule by an independent research assistant after being pre-stratified for tinnitus severity and depression severity.

Intervention: The intervention offered to experimental group is a guided CTB-based internet intervention (ICBT), providing an opportunity to learn about new ways of coping with tinnitus during everyday life. It is 8-week long e-learning intervention, with new modules introduced weekly and assignments are given to practice techniques learned. The experimental group will be given the full ICBT program with all the components (22 chapters), whereas the control group will get only the relaxation-based exercises (8 chapters) of the ICBT program.

Outcome measures: The main outcome measure is the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). Secondary outcome measures are the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS), Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and EuroQol EQ-5D-5L VAS.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • aged 18 years and older living in the USA;
  • the ability to read and type in English;
  • no barriers to using a computer (e.g. no significant fine motor control or visual problems);
  • Internet and e-mail access and the ability to use it;
  • commitment to completing the program;
  • completion of the online screening and outcome questionnaires;
  • agree to participate in either group and be randomized to one of these groups;
  • understand and work towards the end goal of reducing the impact and distress of tinnitus, although the strength of the tinnitus may remain the same;
  • be available for 12 months after starting the study to complete a 1-year follow-up questionnaire; and
  • experience bothersome tinnitus for a minimum period of 3 months;

Exclusion criteria

  • reporting any major medical or psychiatric conditions;
  • reporting pulsatile, objective or unilateral tinnitus, which has not been investigated medically;
  • tinnitus as a consequence of a medical disorder, still under investigation; and
  • undergoing any other tinnitus therapy while participating in this study.

Treatment and study plan

Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Behavioral

The intervention offered is a CTB-based internet intervention, providing an opportunity to learn about new ways of coping with tinnitus during everyday life. It is 8-week long e-learning intervention, with new modules introduced weekly and assignments are given to practice techniques learned.

Other names: ICBT

Primary outcomes

  1. Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI); Measure of Tinnitus Distress

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is a 25-item questionnaire that evaluates the severity of tinnitus distress. Total possible score ranges from 0-to-100 with higher scores suggesting more severe tinnitus distress (i.e., worse outcome). Scores >25 indicate tinnitus is a significant problem requiring tinnitus intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ); Measure of Tinnitus Cognition

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ) is a 26-item questionnaire that assesses positive and negative cognitions associated with tinnitus. The first 13 items refer to negative thoughts and the second 13 items refer to positive thoughts. Responses are marked on a five-point Likert scale (0 to 4). The negative items (1-13) are scored 0-4, whereas the positive items (14-26) are reverse-scored: 4-0. The scoring procedure involves the simple addition of the number circled by the respondent for items 1-13 and the addition of reverse-scored items 14-26. The total score of the TCQ has a potential range from 0 to 104. A high score represents a greater tendency to engage in negative cognitions (i.e., worse outcome) in response to tinnitus and low engagement in positive cognitions.

  2. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); Measure of Depression

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a 9-item questionnaire that assesses depression severity. Responses are marked on a four-point Likert scale (0 to 3). The total score can range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating more severe depression (i.e., worse outcome).

  3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7); Measure of Anxiety

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) is a 7-item questionnaire that assesses the severity of anxiety. Responses are marked on a four-point Likert scale (0 to 3). The total score can range from 0 to 21 with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety (i.e., worse outcome).

  4. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); Measure of Insomnia

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a 7-item questionnaire that evaluates insomnia. Responses are marked on a five-point Likert scale (0 to 4). The total score can range from 0 to 28 with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia (i.w., worse outcome).

  5. EuroQol EQ-5D-5L VAS; Measure of Health-related Quality of Life

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    EQ-5D-5L VAS is a single-item questionnaire that evaluates the health-related quality of life. Responses are marked on a 0-100 scale with higher scores indicating higher health-related quality o life (i.e., better outcome).

  6. Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Tinnitus Sub-scale; Measure of Tinnitus Problem

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problem and ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). The total THS score can range from 0 to 40. However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating more tinnitus problem (i.e., worse outcome).

  7. Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Hearing Sub-scale; Measure of Hearing Problem

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problem and ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). The total THS score can range from 0 to 40. However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 16 with higher scores indicating more hearing problem (i.e., worse outcome).

  8. Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Sound Tolerance Sub-scale; Measure of Sound Tolerance

    Time frame: T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention 1 (after both group complete initial intervention), T2: Post-intervention 2 (after R-ICBT group complete Full ICBT), T3: 2-months post-intervention

    Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) is a 10-item questionnaire that helps in determining how much of a patient's complaint about tinnitus is due to a hearing problem and how much is due specifically to the tinnitus. THS has three sections/subscales (A, B, and C). Section A consists of four items that address common tinnitus problems. Section B contains four items that address hearing. Section C, which includes two items, which focus on sound tolerance problem and ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). The total THS score can range from 0 to 40. However, the scores for this specific sub-scale can range from 0 to 8 with higher scores indicating more sound tolerance problem (i.e., worse outcome).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Lamar University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus Sufferers: Comparing the Full CBT Program With Relaxation Only Program

Acronym: ICBT

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Apr 6, 2020
Registry last updated
Jul 16, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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