Manchaiah, V., Beukes, E.W., Andersson, G., Beatman, E., Swanepoel, D.W., Ulher, K., & Vinay.
Clinics and Practice, 14(4), 1615-1624. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14040130
Publication year: 2024

The study aimed to examine whether individuals with chronic tinnitus report more positive experiences following internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A mixed-methods design was used, nested in clinical trials evaluating internet interventions for tinnitus. Participants (n=164) completed online questionnaires (both structured and open-ended) providing demographic information as well as health variables (e.g., tinnitus distress, anxiety, depression, insomnia). An open-ended question to listing positive effects or outcomes related to having tinnitus was also included. Response to the open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Of the 164 eligible participants, 32.3% (n=53) provided at least one positive experience both at pre- and post-intervention, with 9.1% (n=19) providing positive experience only at pre-intervention, 49 (29.9%) providing positive experiences only at post-intervention, and 28.7% (n=47) participants did not provide any positive experiences on either measurement occasion. Significantly more positive experiences were reported following the intervention in the overall sample (p< .0001, paired sample t test). In addition, participants who reported positive experiences in both pre- and post-intervention also reported more positive experiences following intervention (p= .008, paired sample t test). Internet-based CBT can help individuals with tinnitus to think more positively by changing unhelpful thought patterns. Open-ended questions can supplement structured questionnaires to measure treatment outcomes.