Scientists from Turkey’s Gazi Yasargil Medical University have discovered that chronic tinnitus — a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears — is linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
A study published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment suggests that chronic tinnitus — which manifests as a persistent ringing or buzzing sound — may be associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety, with this risk potentially rising to nearly three times in some cases.
The study included 100 people who had suffered from tinnitus for at least six months, where researchers assessed the severity of symptoms using the Tinnitus Impairment Scale (THI), along with assessing psychological status using specialized tests, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
A clear link exists between the severity of tinnitus and psychological state.
The analysis showed a moderate but consistent association between tinnitus severity and levels of depression and anxiety. Even after accounting for multiple factors, higher scores on the Therapeutic Interventional Psychological Disorders (TID) scale remained associated with increased levels of psychiatric disorders, particularly in patients with severe tinnitus.
It was found that people who scored more than 58 points on the (THI) scale were about 3.1 times more likely to suffer from moderate to severe depression, and about 2.8 times more likely to suffer from anxiety compared to others.
Possible neurological explanation
Scientists believe that the link between tinnitus and psychological state is due to the overlap of neural networks responsible for sound processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive control.
The study also showed that people with tinnitus experience changes in the activity of several brain regions, including:
auditory cortex
limbic system
frontal lobe
amygdala
insula lobe
anterior cingulate cortex
These changes may contribute to enhancing the emotional impact of tinnitus, increasing the feeling of discomfort and helping it to persist.
