Healing From Home: Examination of an Online Mindfulness-Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction Course During the 2020 COVID Pandemic.
Jennifer J. Gans, Jennifer Holst, Corrie Holmes, Daniel Hudock
American journal of audiology March 2023 DOI: 10.1044/2022_aja-22-00063 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 43 |
| Population | Adults with severe, bothersome tinnitus |
| Intervention | Internet-delivered Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (i-MBTSR) program |
| Duration | 8-week self-paced course; follow-up at 6 months |
| Measures | Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The 8-week internet-delivered mindfulness-based tinnitus stress reduction course was associated with reduced tinnitus severity, with mean TFI scores dropping from 59.96 to 44.16 at midtreatment and 34.23 posttreatment, and improvements in perceived stress and tinnitus self-function that remained significant at 6-month follow-up. The authors conclude the program appears viable and effective and suggest a shorter 3-week course may be effective. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an Internet delivered Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (i-MBTSR) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tinnitus, often a chronic condition, is experienced by 15% of the population. For those with severe, bothersome tinnitus, quality of life is reduced and the treatment options are limited. We evaluated an approach intended to decrease tinnitus-related distress. This study examined the data collected for an online i-MBTSR course using a retrospective design. The intervention included an 8-week self-paced i-MBTSR course, including didactic information about mindfulness and tinnitus, as well as meditation practices. Outcome measures included the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which were measured at four time periods. These time points included pretreatment, midtreatment at 3 weeks, immediately posttreatment, and at 6-month follow-up. Forty-three participants completed the intervention. The mean preintervention tinnitus severity rating was 59.96 ("severe tinnitus") as measured by the TFI. Mean TFI scores dropped to 44.16 (p < .001) at midtreatment and to 34.23 (p = .001) at posttreatment. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance tests were conducted to determine changes in the two scales at the four time periods. There were significant differences in perceived stress and tinnitus self-function found in all measures and submeasures between the pre-, mid-, and posttreatment time points with the exception of the TFI Auditory subtest. These gains remained significant for those who completed the 6-month follow-up. The i-MBTSR course appears to be a viable and effective treatment modality. A shorter 3-week course may be effective. Case-control studies to more systematically investigate the effectiveness of i-MBTSR for tinnitus are required.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 1
Cites 9
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Does Mindfulness Meditation Improve Anxiety and Mood Symptoms? A Review of the Controlled Research The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry April 1, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Live Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine June 2022
- A randomised controlled study of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation therapy in the management of tinnitus. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology June 2017
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as a Treatment for Chronic Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2017
and 4 more in the library