Tinnitus and Mental Distress (Reavis et al., 2020) ReavisKelly HenryJames MarshallLynn M. CarlsonKathleen F. 2020 <div><b>Purpose:</b> The aim of this study was to examine the</div><div>relationship between tinnitus and self-reported mental health</div><div>distress, namely, depression symptoms and perceived</div><div>anxiety, in adults who participated in the National Health</div><div>and Nutrition Examinations Survey between 2009 and</div><div>2012. A secondary aim was to determine if a history of</div><div>serving in the military modified the associations between</div><div>tinnitus and mental health distress.</div><div><b>Method:</b> This was a cross-sectional study design of a</div><div>national data set that included 5,550 U.S. community-dwelling adults ages 20 years and older, 12.7% of whom</div><div>were military Veterans. Bivariable and multivariable logistic</div><div>regression was used to estimate the association between</div><div>tinnitus and mental health distress. All measures were</div><div>based on self-report. Tinnitus and perceived anxiety were</div><div>each assessed using a single question. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, a validated questionnaire. Multivariable regression models were adjusted for key demographic and health factors, including self-reported hearing ability.</div><div><b>Results:</b> Prevalence of tinnitus was 15%. Compared to</div><div>adults without tinnitus, adults with tinnitus had a 1.8-fold</div><div>increase in depression symptoms and a 1.5-fold increase in</div><div>perceived anxiety after adjusting for potential confounders.</div><div>Military Veteran status did not modify these observed</div><div>associations.</div><div><b>Conclusions:</b> Findings revealed an association between</div><div>tinnitus and both depression symptoms and perceived</div><div>anxiety, independent of potential confounders, among both</div><div>Veterans and non-Veterans. These results suggest, on a</div><div>population level, that individuals with tinnitus have a greater</div><div>burden of perceived mental health distress and may benefit</div><div>from interdisciplinary health care, self-help, and community-based interventions.</div><div><br></div><div>Reavis, K. M., Henry J. A., Marshall, L. M., & Carlson, K. F. (2020). Prevalence of self-reported depression</div><div>symptoms and perceived anxiety among community-dwelling U.S. adults reporting tinnitus. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_PERSP-19-00178</div>