Hyperbaric Oxygen in Tinnitus: Influence of Psychological Factors on Treatment Results?

Abstract

Introduction: The standard treatment of subjective tinnitus hardly reaches the level of placebo controls. Though the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) for subjective tinnitus has never been objectified, it is still advocated by some institutions. We analyzed the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment in the context of accompanying factors. Patients and Methods: We randomized 360 patients suffering from tinnitus into 2 HBO treatment protocols (group A: 2.2 bar for 60 min bottom time and group B: 2.5 bar for 60 min bottom time once a day for 15 days). All patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire (social and medical history, tinnitus characteristics, pre-HBO duration of tinnitus, prior therapy, pretreatment expectation, accompanying symptoms). A subjective assessment of the therapeutic effect was obtained. Results: Twelve patients (3.3%) experienced complete remission of tinnitus, in 122 (33.9) the intensity lessened, and 44 (12.2%) had a subjectively agreeable change of noise characteristics. No change was found in 157 cases (43.6%) and 25 (6.9%) experienced deterioration. There was no statistically significant difference between groups A and B (p > 0.05). Out of 68 patients with a positive expectation of HBO effects, 60.3% stated that the tinnitus had improved whereas only 47.2 and 19%, respectively, out of patients who underwent therapy with an indifferent (n = 271) or negative expectation (n = 21) reported an improvement. The influence of subjective expectation on the outcome was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of HBO on subjective tinnitus may be substantially influenced by psychological mechanisms.

A Systematic Review of Eligibility and Outcomes in Tinnitus Trials

“…and E.F.) for 3 inclusion criteria: ≥2 independent patient groups treated differently, randomization of patients, and reporting of tinnitus outcomes (if the study examined symptoms other than tinnitus, tinnitus results were reported separately). This yielded 147 studies ( Figure 1) for inclusion in data abstraction and analysis 5–151 …”

Η Κλινική Αποτελεσματικότητα Του Υπερβαρικού Οξυγόνου Σε Ασθενείς Με Αιφνίδια Βαρηκοΐα

“…και συμφωνούν συγχρόνως με τη μελέτη του Dauman και συν 143. οι οποίοι καταδεικνύουν ότι δεν υπάρχει ουσιαστική διαφορά στη βελτίωση της ακοής, αν εκτελούνται δύο συνεδρίες ΥΒΟΘ ημερησίως αντί μίας.Στη μελέτη του Porubsky και συν 156. αξιολογήθηκε η δράση της ΥΒΟΘ στις εμβοές, σε σχέση με τις προσδοκίες των ασθενών, και αναδείχθηκε ότι τα υποκειμενικά στοιχεία κυριαρχούν στη θετική ή αρνητική έκβαση και επηρεάζουν κατ' επέκταση τη δράση του ΥΒΟ, ενώ συγχρόνως παρατηρήθηκε υψηλό ποσοστό ανάκτησης των εμβοών.…”