NCT04335812

Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus Sufferers

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 135 (actual)
• Sponsor: Lamar University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

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.

Conditions

• Tinnitus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-05-04
• Primary completion: 2020-07-24
• Completion: 2020-07-24
• First posted: 2020-04-06
• Last updated: 2021-07-16
• Results posted: 2021-07-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States