Tinnitus patients often have accompanying problems such as depression, anxiety, other somatoform symptoms, insomnia or hearing loss. Currently, there are few effective treatments for tinnitus. Those that do exist seem to excel at alleviating the stress associated with the idiosyncratic experience of perception.

The current study is expected to contribute to the new research that focuses on matching therapies to individual psychobiological profiles. In particular, the study aims to,

• To identify biomarkers* associated with tinnitus and co-occurring problems in a clinical sample of tinnitus patient:s,
• Link these biomarkers to psychological measures that assess emotional and behavioral processes thought to contribute to the maintenance of tinnitus distress; and
• To examine changes in biomarkers and behavioral measures after a basic or improved compact multimodal tinnitus-specific cognitive behavioral therapy program.

The project is funded by the HEINZ UND HEIDE DÜRR FOUNDATION. It was originally planned to run for a period of five years (2019–2023). Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has been extended, at no additional cost, until 31 December 2027. The project summary will follow once the project has been completed.

*Biomarkers are characteristic biological features that can be objectively measured in blood or tissue samples and indicate a normal biological or pathological process in the body.