Mindfulness-based therapy for chronic tinnitus: a narrative review.
Zhongfu Zhang, Qingqin Xu, Jing Wang, Yongxin Luo, Qianer Shao, Yang Jinhua Li, Haoyu Lu, Jianwei Lu
Frontiers in Psychology 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1738053 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | mindfulness-based therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic tinnitus Mindfulness practice Mindfulness therapy Narrative review Psychological intervention |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions may reduce tinnitus-related distress and improve emotional regulation and quality of life, but evidence for reducing tinnitus loudness is limited. |
Abstract
Chronic tinnitus is often accompanied by considerable psychological burden, including anxiety, depression, and impaired quality of life. Mindfulness-based therapy has attracted growing attention as a potential psychological intervention for tinnitus management. This narrative review examines the current literature on the rationale, clinical application, reported efficacy, limitations, and future directions of mindfulness-based therapy in chronic tinnitus. Current evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions may help reduce tinnitus-related distress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance quality of life, while evidence for direct effects on tinnitus loudness remains limited. Although findings from existing studies are encouraging, the literature is heterogeneous with respect to intervention types, comparator conditions, and outcome measures. Mindfulness-based therapy may therefore represent a useful adjunctive option for some patients with chronic tinnitus, but further rigorous research is required to better define its clinical role.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 31
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Body Awareness: a phenomenological inquiry into the common ground of mind-body therapies Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine 2011
and 26 more in the library