An ICF-based content analysis of the overlap between questionnaires assessing tinnitus distress and depressive symptoms

The experience of tinnitus varies considerably among individuals, particularly in terms of perceived distress. Psychological factors play a major role in this variability, and numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between symptoms of depression and tinnitus distress. Both constructs are commonly assessed through self-report questionnaires....

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Audiologists using tinnitus distress questionnaires should be aware that scores may partly reflect depressive symptoms, which could inflate perceived tinnitus severity; consider routine depression screening alongside tinnitus assessment.

Understanding the conceptual overlap between tinnitus and depression measures is essential for accurate patient assessment and for designing clinical trials that need to separate these constructs.

1. 01PLoS ONE study used the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) to map tinnitus distress and depression questionnaires.
2. 02Substantial content overlap found between tinnitus and depression questionnaires — key emotional and psychological items appear in both.
3. 03Overlap may explain why tinnitus severity often correlates strongly with depressive symptoms in clinical studies.
4. 04Findings suggest current tinnitus questionnaires may not fully isolate tinnitus-specific distress from general mental health burden.
5. 05Implications for clinical measurement, tinnitus research design, and outcome selection in intervention studies.

PMID

42766619

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0358644.

Journal

PLOS ONE

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Adults with tinnitus assessed using distress and depression questionnaires

Intervention

ICF-based content analysis of tinnitus and depression questionnaires