CBT-based Internet Intervention for Adults With Tinnitus in the United States

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Based Self-help Delivered Via the Internet for Tinnitus Sufferers: Efficacy Trial in the U.S. Population

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 in the U.S. (less than 1%), partly attributed to a lack of trained professionals who can deliver CBT. To improve access to CBT for tinnitus, and online CBT program has been developed. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a CBT Internet-based intervention for adults with tinnitus in the United States.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tinnitus
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Detailed Description

Objective: This study aims to determine the feasibility and efficacy of an Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT) in reducing the impact associated with tinnitus in the United States.

Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that ICBT will result in reduced tinnitus-related distress, decreased sleep disturbance, decreased anxiety and depression, and improved health-related quality of life in a treatment group as compared with adults in the weekly check-in control-group in the U.S. population. 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 ICBT on tinnitus distress.

Setting: This will be an Internet-based study for adults with tinnitus living in the State of Texas, 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. 80 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 language and tinnitus severity.

Intervention: The intervention offered 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.

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 315
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Beaumont, Texas, United States, 77705
      • Lamar University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. aged 18 years and older living in the State of Texas, USA;
2. the ability to read and type in English or Spanish;
3. no barriers to using a computer (e.g. no significant fine motor control or visual problems);
4. Internet and e-mail access and the ability to use it;
5. commitment to completing the program;
6. completion of the online screening and outcome questionnaires;
7. agreeing to participate in either group and be randomized to one of these groups;
8. understanding and working towards the end goal of reducing the impact and distress of tinnitus, although the strength of the tinnitus may remain the same;
9. be available for 12 months after starting the study to complete a 1-year follow-up questionnaire;
10. suffering with experiencing tinnitus for a minimum period of 3 months; and
11. tinnitus outcome measure scores indicating the need for tinnitus care [25 or above on the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)].

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental group; The intervention offered is a guided Internet-based CBT intervention. The intervention is similar to a self-help program, providing an opportunity to learn about new ways of coping with tinnitus during everyday life. It is a 8-week long e-learning intervention, with new modules introduced weekly and assignments are given to practice the techniques learned.	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.; Other Names: ICBT
Other: Weekly check-in control group; The weekly check-in control group will be monitored weekly by means of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-Screening version (THI-S) and the Tinnitus Qualities Questionnaire (TQQ). Once the experimental group completes the ICBT intervention, the control group undertake the same ICBT intervention.	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.; Other Names: ICBT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) - Measure of Tinnitus Distress	The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is a 25-item questionnaire that evaluates tinnitus distress. The total possible score ranges from 0-to-100 with higher scores indicate more severe tinnitus distress (i.e., worse outcome). Scores >25 indicate tinnitus is a significant problem requiring tinnitus intervention.	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tinnitus Cognition Questionnaire (TCQ); Measure of Tinnitus Cognition	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.	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); Measure of Depression	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).	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7); Measure of Anxiety	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).	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); Measure of Insomnia	Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a 7-item questionnaire that evaluates the severity of 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.e., worse outcome).	Baseline, Post-intervention (8-weeks from baseline), 2-months post-intervention (16 weeks from baseline)
EuroQol EQ-5D-5L VAS Scores; Measure of Health-related Quality of Life	EQ-5D-5L VAS is a single questionnaire that evaluates the health-related quality of life. Responses are marked on a 0-100 scale with higher scores indicate the higher overall health-related quality of life (i.e., better outcome).	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Tinnitus Sub-scale; Measure of Tinnitus Problem	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 problems and the 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).	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Hearing Sub-scale; Measure of Hearing Problem	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 problems and the ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). 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).	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention
Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) - Sound Tolerance Sub-scale; Measure of Sound Tolerance	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 problems and the ability to participate in group therapy. Responses for each item can range from 0 (not a problem) to 4 (very big problem). 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).	T0: Baseline, T1: Post-intervention after the experimental group completed the intervention, T2: Post-intervention after control group completed intervention; T3: 2-months post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lamar University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Vinaya Manchaiah, PhD, Lamar University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• W Beukes E, Andersson G, Fagelson M, Manchaiah V. Internet-Based Audiologist-Guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Feb 14;24(2):e27584. doi: 10.2196/27584.
• Beukes EW, Andersson G, Manchaiah V. Patient Uptake, Experiences, and Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus in the United States. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Nov 17;8:771646. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.771646. eCollection 2021.

Helpful Links

• Related Info

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 3, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): July 3, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 2, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 11, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 10, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Ear Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Hearing Disorders; Tinnitus
• Other Study ID Numbers: R21DC017214 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Figshare at http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13646012
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Available now
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Data are openly available
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No