Exploring the Impact of Misophonia Through the Lens of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework.

Abstract

Background: Misophonia is characterized by reduced tolerance to specific sound stimuli known as triggers. The reactions can be emotional, behavioral or physiological. In response to triggers, a person with misophonia might express irritation, anger, or disgust by being verbally or physically aggressive. This ultimately affects their quality of life.Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the impact of misophonia on everyday life using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.Research Design: The study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data through a qualitative resurvey search method.Study Sample: The study sample included 51 individuals with misophonia aged 18 to 30 years. The sample was recruited through the administration of the Revised Amsterdam Misophonia Scale.Data Collection and Analysis: The data were collected using two open-ended questions, the Problem Question (PQ) and the Life Effects Question (LEQ). The responses were linked to categories within ICF using a simple content analysis approach. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to check for the significant difference between the number of responses.Results: Among 294 responses, 222 were related to PQ, and 72 were associated with LEQ. Participation in activities was most affected by misophonia, followed by impairments in body function. The most frequently affected functions were focusing attention from activity limitations and participation restrictions, followed by appropriateness of emotion from impairments of body function.Conclusions: The findings indicate that misophonia most significantly affects the domain of Activities and Participation, with subsequent impacts on Body Functions and Environmental Factors. This underscores the heterogeneous and multifaceted nature of misophonia's effects, demonstrating the effectiveness of open-ended questions in capturing the varied impacts on affected individuals.