[Social support, disability, coping with stress and personality markers in patients with subjective chronic aural tinnitus and a clinical control group].

Abstract

The inhibition of physiological habituation in patients with chronic aural tinnitus extends from the level of cellular processing to psychologic and psychosocial determinants. The following hypotheses were tested in 32 patients with chronic tinnitus and 30 patients of a comparable clinical control group: tinnitus patients differ concerning (1) the perception of social support, (2) a disposition to psychosomatic diseases, (3) coping with stress and (4) certain personality traits. Standard psychological tests were used as well as a detailed examination of at least 30 minutes. Results showed that the tinnitus patients statistically perceived less social support and more social distress compared to the control group. They also showed significantly poorer results in coping with stress. Increased social distress in a number of cases resulted in noticeable decompensation. Additionally, a disposition to psychosomatic disorders increased, so that conflicts arising expressed themselves in various functional diseases. In most cases psychiatric exploration showed a vocational or familial overcharge. In patients experiencing decompensation, close cooperation with a psychotherapist is required.