Psychologic Profile of Tinnitus Patients Using the SCL-90-R and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R results on a group of tinnitus patients and to compare the average scores of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and SCL-90-R for help-seeking and non-help-seeking patients with tinnitus. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in which tinnitus patients were administered the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Patients with tinnitus seeking audiological services. INTERVENTIONS: Rehabilitative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Symptom Checklist-90-R. RESULTS: Fifty-three consecutive patients having tinnitus were administered the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-R. There was a significant correlation between the Symptom Checklist-90-R and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (rs = 0.43). Furthermore, 25% of these patients scored abnormally high on the Symptom Checklist-90-R, which is substantially more than the general medical population of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this sample of 53 patients, the Symptom Checklist-90-R does seem to be a useful tool in identifying distress among tinnitus patients. The Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist-90-R has a defined cutoff score indicating significant distress levels, which makes it a useful screening tool for identifying those who would benefit from psychologic or psychiatric intervention.