Estimation of prevalence and severity of misophonia in adults from India

Misophonia, or "hatred of sound", is characterised by adverse reactions to a specific sound. Persons with misophonia might experience diverse symptoms like anxiety, rage, hatred, etc, from mild to severe. Little is known about the prevalence of misophonia in the adult population in the age range of 30 to 50 years, and existing prevalence studies include only college students or the clinical population - the present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of misophonia in adults through standardised questionnaires. A total of 341 adults from all over India, aged 30 to 50 years, participated in the study. The Misophonia Assessment Questionnaire (MAQ), given by Marsha Johnson, was used to analyse the severity of misophonia in the participants. The questionnaire was administered individually through an online survey, where participants completed Google Forms containing demographic data and the Misophonia Assessment Questionnaire (MAQ). The present study revealed that, out of 341 subjects, the prevalence of misophonia was approximately 31.37%, with most subjects having subclinical misophonia. The results of the study show a high prevalence of misophonia among adults in the age range of 30-50 years. As misophonia is prevalent in the general population, appropriate assessment and management will help reduce the quality of life disruptions.