A new study conducted at Tinnituszentrum Charité investigates the psychological factors associated with chronic tinnitus, including patients with and without hearing loss. The study by PD Dr. Dr. Benjamin Boecking, Dr. Kurt Steinmetzger, Dr. Petra Brueggemann, Prof. Dr. Matthias Rose und Prof. Dr. Birgit Mazurek (“Transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology in chronic tinnitus patients with and without hearing loss,” analysed data from 678 patients with chronic tinnitus. Researchers examined patterns of psychological symptoms and their relationship with tinnitus-related distress (TRD).

The findings show that psychological vulnerability in chronic tinnitus is better understood through broader dimensions rather than individual psychiatric diagnoses. Three key dimensions were identified: internalising psychopathology, harmful substance use, and fear-related social perceptions. Particulary depression and anxiety-related factors, were associated with higher tinnitus-related distress. More than half of the patients (52.1%) had no measurable hearing loss, suggesting that tinnitus persistence and distress may involve psychological processes beyond inner-ear changes alone. The authors conclude that considering patients’ overall emotional functioning rather than focusing only on specific diagnoses helps to better understand and treat chronic tinnitus.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-32526-5