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Tinnitus patients are among the most vulnerable group to develop psychopathological symptoms over time if left unresolved. This study aims to investigate the role of tinnitus distress between tinnitus magnitude, cognitions and functional difficulties in the development of somatization symptoms among male and female patients experiencing ear-related problems due to lack of proper access to health care.

This study was based on a purposive sampling technique and sample consisted on 159 patients (97 male, 62 female) having tinnitus complaints, with age range 18–87 (M = 47.94, SD = 17.47) years, recruited from various clinics and hospitals of Islamabad, Pakistan, from December 2020 to July 2021.

The findings of this study showed that tinnitus distress is significant positively associated with tinnitus-related magnitude, negative cognitions, functional difficulties and somatization symptoms. Gender-related differences between male and female tinnitus patients revealed that females are more prone to depict higher levels of tinnitus distress, tinnitus magnitude, negative cognitions and somatization symptoms than male patients. Mediation analysis demonstrated that tinnitus distress serves as a mediator between tinnitus magnitude, cognitions, functional difficulties and somatization symptoms.

Cross-sectional nature and self-reporting measures serve as a limitation of the study. An experimental study appears to be vital to ascertain the time-based relationship with tinnitus magnitude in the development of various psychopathological issues. The findings of this study contribute to the literature by highlighting the role of tinnitus distress in the origination of psychopathological symptoms like somatization and need of upgraded health-care systems in Pakistan.

This study has explored the mediating role of tinnitus distress between magnitude, cognitions, functional difficulties and somatization symptoms among Pakistani population, specifically mentioning the development of somatization symptoms among this population, which can contribute in the loss of earning and increased health expenses due to unawareness of proper health-care approach.

The purpose of this paper is to determine a tinnitus patient information pack’s (TPIP) usefulness in patients suffering with tinnitus with respect to their need for further tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and in reducing TRT cancellations and non-attenders.

The paper consists of prospective case series in a district general hospital ENT out-patient department.

Patients with tinnitus-related symptoms constitute around 2 per cent of the ENT OPD workload at the West Middlesex Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust, London, i.e., 365 patients with intrusive tinnitus were referred by the ENT surgeon for TRT; 56/365 patients (15.3 per cent) failed to attend and 60 (16.4 per cent) cancelled their appointments. The following year, a TPIP was administered to all tinnitus sufferers, despite the affliction’s intrusiveness, and told to contact the audiology department if they felt that TRT was required, which resulted in 43/233 patients (18.5 per cent) over a one-year period self-referring for TRT; 2/233 (0.9 per cent) did not attend, and 1/233 (0.4 per cent) were cancelled appointments.

The patient-focussed TPIP acts as an initial therapy for the tinnitus sufferer by providing reassurance and self-therapy. This results in patients who are less likely to seek TRT, leading to more efficient clinical resource usage (p<0.01).

The data suggest that all tinnitus sufferers presenting to ENT clinics could be handed a TPIP and empowered with the decision whether they require further intervention.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of psychological problems (stress, anxiety, depression) between hearing impairment (HI) and tinnitus in tinnitus patients. Sample comprised of 110 patients (male, n=70; female, n=40).

The purposive sampling technique was used based on correlational design. Two scales, tinnitus handicap inventory developed by Newman et al. (1996), and depression, anxiety and stress scale developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995), were employed to assess tinnitus, anxiety, stress and depression among tinnitus patients.

The study revealed that tinnitus was positively significant correlated with depression (r=0.55, p<0.001), anxiety (r=0.63, p<0.001), stress (r=0.54, p<0.001) and hearing loss (r=0.81, p<0.001). The results also revealed that hearing loss was positively significant predictor for tinnitus (β=20.72, p<0.001). Further, it was revealed that tinnitus was positively significant predicted by anxiety (β=2.62, p<0.001), stress (β=2.33, p<0.001) and depression (β=2.71, p<0.001); the interaction between psychological symptoms and hearing loss was negatively significant predictor for stress (β=−0.51, p<0.001), anxiety (β=−0.57, p<0.001) and depression (β=−0.62, p<0.001). Moreover, it was revealed that female tinnitus patients were more predisposed to stress, anxiety and depression as compared to male tinnitus patients. Results also elaborated that those tinnitus patient who had profound HI were less inclined toward psychological problems as compared to those tinnitus patients who had mild to moderate level of HI. This study would be helpful for the clinical setting to tackle the psychological problems of tinnitus patients.

This study consisted on population from urban cities of Pakistan; therefore, the findings cannot be generalized on overall population. In future, descriptive as well as experimental studies will be beneficial to describe the mechanism of tinnitus across gender in detail. Native tool for measuring gender-related problems would be effective in future as it integrates cultural aspects as well.

There is a consensus across researchers that tinnitus is one of the most important biological problem which initiates various other psychological problem (Minen et al., 2014; Vogel et al., 2014). Numerous studies have been conducted to find out the relationship of tinnitus with various psychological and biological factors (Boi et al., 2012; Li et al., 2014; Marciano et al., 2003; McCormack et al., 2015; Møller et al., 2010; Udupi et al., 2013; Zöger et al., 2006).

The purpose of this paper is to indicate that when webotherapy is applied, it can be of benefit to clients in giving them insight into their problems, resulting in a change of behavior.

Webotherapy, which can be conducted with individuals or groups, refers to the use of web resources or other online reading material (e.g. e‐books, e‐journals) to assist clients (especially children and young adults) in their healing process. It may be defined as the use of web resources to help others gain additional insight and to help them cope with everyday life. Most people have probably read web resources to determine how others have approached a delicate issue.

This paper suggests that webotherapy is a potentially powerful method for psychologists, librarians, schoolteachers and counselors to use on many levels. It begins with a brief review of the history of webotherapy, continues with a discussion of some approaches to webotherapy (developmental, clinical, and interactive), then addresses the four basic stages of webotherapy (identification, selection, presentation, and follow‐up), and finally discusses the benefits and limitations of webotherapy.

The paper discusses webotherapy and offers a review of literature on related fields.

The purpose of this study is both to explore how people with “hidden” auditory disorders experience exclusion in servicescapes and to unfold the coping strategies they set up to deal with it.

Findings from 15 semi-structured interviews and participant observations with individuals suffering from auditory disorders are presented through the paper.

The findings indicate that individuals with auditory disorders deploy three types of coping strategies when exposed to sensory overload in servicescapes: choosing between physical servicescapes, opting for electronic devices and e-servicescapes and delegating shopping to relatives.

The study underlines how, through temporary or permanent modifications of servicescape cues, service providers give consumers opportunities to bypass situations involving sensory overload. Implications for e-servicescapes and public policy are also raised.

The findings reveal how the coping strategies used by individuals with auditory disorders contribute to their exclusion from the marketplace on the basis of both individual characteristics and types of servicescapes.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the indigenous need for public health challenges being faced by the patients in Pakistan because of vertigo symptoms. Vertigo or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is described as short episodes of dizziness (spinning sensations) that are caused because of movements of head in varying directions. Various published accounts have linked vertigo to psychological and psychiatric symptoms, which include stress, anxiety and depression. The aim of present study is to examine the validity and reliability of Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) Urdu version that is vital in the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of patients coming in hospitals.

This present study included two segments, namely, preliminary and main study. Preliminary study results indicated that the overall scale had high internal consistency of DHI Urdu version α = 0.95. The overall scale retained a high test-retest correlation tested over a period of 15 days (r = 0.93). Main study was performed on 222 vestibulocochlear disorder patients having chief complaints of tinnitus and vertigo, age ranged from 18 to 89 (M = 46.14; SD = 16.64) and recruited from various hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Purposive sampling technique was applied based on cross-sectional design.

Significant correlations were noted between dizziness symptoms rating on the translated scale. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the structure of the scales; an orthogonal rotation (Varimax) was conducted on the data collected from patients. A three-factor solution was obtained for DHI, the factors obtained were associated to the subscales vestibular handicap, vestibular disability and visuo-vestibular disability, demonstrating a strong factorial validity in the Pakistani cultural context.

Vertigo is a symptom that initiates various psychological issues among vestibulocochlear disorder patients (patients having ear related problems) around the world and therefore the investigated inventory offers an initial assessment for the severity of dizziness. Current research will help in the development of indigenous measures to ascertain the severity of the symptoms triggering various other mental health-related issues.

Over the course of their service, veterans are exposed to elevated levels of chronic stress that contribute to a greater prevalence of mental illness than observed in the general population. When mental illness is present, comorbidity is normative. Convergent evidence suggests that co-occurring substance use and mental illness is among the most prevalent forms of comorbidity within veteran samples. The purpose of this paper is to explore issues associated with dual diagnoses among veterans in the USA.

Research on dual diagnoses among veterans was reviewed and consolidated for presentation into three substantive content areas consisting of prevalence, associated conditions, and treatment of dual diagnoses.

Dually diagnosed veterans represent a group at particularly high risk for myriad adverse biopsychosocial and treatment outcomes, including poor health, suicidality, violence or aggressive behavior, arrest, homelessness, and unemployment. A comprehensive strategy has been implemented within the Veterans Health Administration to address dual diagnosis and related problems. Additional research is required to more readily identify co-occurring substance use and mental illness and to refine integrated intervention approaches to minimize burden while improving treatment outcomes for veterans and their families.

The current review includes a wide range of research spanning more than two decades and describing dual diagnosis among combat veterans of all modern eras. Areas in need of further research (e.g. dual diagnosis among female veterans; early detection of psychopathology and fully integrated care among returning veterans) are identified and discussed.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of virtual reality (VR) for experiential learning in dementia training. People have different perceptions and understanding of what it is like to live with dementia, particularly those that are new to dementia care, whether in a professional capacity, or as a friend or family member. Arguably the most powerful way in which to enhance understanding is to give people a glimpse of what living with dementia might be like.

The myShoes project aimed to create a resource that would augment a virtual environment and expose the user to an experience that gives them a sense of what living with dementia might be like. The resource was created using the latest VR and game development software. A sample group of students from a mixed range of health professions tested the resource providing in depth feedback on its immediate impact and ideas for further development.

Notwithstanding the limited sample on which the simulation has been tested, carefully designing the activities and constructing a learning space that allows for reflection on being placed temporarily in another person’s shoes, appears to have enabled students to think beyond ‘treatment, to considering how the person might feel and altering their approach accordingly.

This is a pilot study. More research using VR as a training resource is planned.

The study will support educational training, particularly that which uses virtual reality for clinicians and carers.

The adoption of a VR approach to training formal and informal carers has potential to enhance empathy and improve holistic care of people with dementia.

The myShoes project adopts a novel approach to simulating the effects of dementia for training purposes.