Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: There is a constant need to asses and renew treatment programs when working with tinnitus patients, as there is no universal cure for tinnitus yet.This study is a literature review examining the effect of a treatment approach called Third wave CBT in tinnitus patients.The Third wave includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapy when treating tinnitus.Specifically, the study evaluates if the Third wave CBT approach is effective in treating psychological conditions and disorders associated with tinnitus.Research question: What do randomized controlled trials reveal about the effect of the Third wave CBT treatment on psychological conditions and disorders associated with bothersome tinnitus in adults?The electronic databases PubPsych, Pubmed, Cochrane library, Oria UIO and Web of Science were used in identifying high quality research for further evaluation.For this master's thesis, 6 randomized controlled trials (RCT) were selected and evaluated for their quality with a CASP appraisal tool.The selection contains trials comparing a Third wave intervention to no treatment, to establish if there is an effect, and compared to Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Relaxation Therapy (RT) and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).Combined, these studies included 390 participants.The results were categorized into sustained effect of the interventions, and the following psychological conditions and disorders: tinnitus distress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, quality of life and perceived health.The results were not one-dimensional, and the studies sometimes revealed contradicting findings.In Tinnitus distress, the compressed results revealed that 3 of the studies found the Third wave intervention to be more effective than other active treatments.The remaining studies found similar or other effects.In Depression, the results revealed improvement after active treatments, but the results were mixed as to Third wave being more effective than other treatments.Evaluating Anxiety there was improvements after active treatments, but the Third wave intervention was mostly not more effective than other treatments.Analyzing the studies revealed a lack of direct measurement when assessing Insomnia, which revealed that one study found no improvements in active treatments, and one study found improvement in the Third wave intervention compared to VI another treatment.In Quality of life and perceived health, the results revealed mixed findings and no improvement.A major finding in the thesis was that most of the studies coincided in that the Third wave Sustained the effect from treatment longer and better.In conclusion, the Third wave intervention might be a viable treatment option when treating some of the psychological conditions and disorders associated with bothersome tinnitus.On some psychological conditions and disorders, the Third wave seem to have no more effect than other active treatments like CBT, RT and TRT.Measuring tinnitus distress, the Third wave seem to be as effective, or more effective than other active treatments.The largest benefit however, might be the sustained effects on psychological conditions and disorders from the treatment.Following the participants months to a year after the intervention, those receiving a Third wave treatment mostly showed sustained and even further improved outcome compared to other treatments.VII Preface I want to thank my guidance counsellor Guri Engernes Nielsen for not only helping me through this writing process, but also for introducing me to the topic of tinnitus and hyperacusis.She has inspired me and contributed in making the last two years exceedingly fascinating and educational.I would also like to thank all my internship guidance counsellors for their inspiring teachings and for being role models.I would especially like to thank my husband Tom Alexander for endless support and love.When our son was nearly a year old, I went back to school and started this journey.The logistics with caring for a toddler, internship, exams and papers due, have not always been the easiest, but Tom has always stepped up with a smile.This master's thesis would not be possible without him, and I will be forever grateful.
Author: Tina Therese Trones
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2995517799