Prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with tinnitus

Background: Tinnitus is phantom sound sensation in absence of external source of sound. A close association has been demonstrated between tinnitus and comorbid psychological disorders. In patients suffering from tinnitus a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression has been reported. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients suffering from tinnitus. Materials and Methods: It was cross sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital of Punjab. The study recruited 50 patients with history of tinnitus of time period more than twelve months of duration after taking written informed consent. The inclusion criteria was Patients over the age of 18, Patients having tinnitus for past 1 year duration. Patients with prior history of psychiatric illness were excluded. Depression was assessed by using Hamilton rating scale for depression(HRSD) and anxiety by Hamilton anxiety rating scale [18] (HAM-A). Appropiate statistical analysis was done. Results and Conclusion: Most of the study sample [27 (54%)] were in the age group of 41-50. Females outnumbered males. Majority of patients were suffering from tinnitus from last 1-5 years (33). Out of 50 subjects, depression was present in 43 patients and anxiety in 14 patients. There was strong correlation between female gender and depression and anxiety.