Founded in 1993, the Cochrane Collaboration is a UK-based not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to making healthcare information readily available to the public. The organization recently released a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled studies that investigated the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for those with tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, “uses relaxation, cognitive restructuring of thoughts and exposure to exacerbating situations in order to provide habituation”. CBT plays a role in several current tinnitus treatments. The Cochrane analysis revealed no significant difference in the subjective loudness of patients’ tinnitus, or in the associated symptoms of depression. However, the reviewers did uncover a significant improvement in quality of life (i.e. decrease of global tinnitus severity). The authors of the study concluded, “cognitive behavioral therapy has an effect on the qualitative aspects of tinnitus and contributes positively to the management of tinnitus”.
For more information on this study, visit The Cochrane Collaboration site.
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