Prevalence and characterization of tinnitus in patients with mental disorders in the context of primary health care

To estimate the prevalence and characterize tinnitus in patients with mental disorders.

Audiologists seeing patients with mental health comorbidities should be alert to an elevated prevalence of tinnitus in this population; no immediate protocol change is warranted, but cross-referral pathways with mental health providers may be worth reviewing.

Understanding the overlap between tinnitus and mental health disorders could strengthen the case for integrated hearing and mental health screening in primary care.

1. 01Observational study estimated tinnitus prevalence in primary care patients diagnosed with mental disorders.
2. 02Characterized tinnitus features (e.g., pitch, loudness, impact) within this psychiatric population.
3. 03Mental health conditions are already associated with tinnitus distress; this study adds prevalence data from primary care.
4. 04Findings may support integrated screening protocols in primary and mental health care settings.

PMID

42054186

DOI

10.1590/2317-1782/e20250247pt.

Journal

CoDAS

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients with mental disorders seen in primary health care settings

Intervention

Observational assessment of tinnitus prevalence and characteristics