Reliability of self-rated tinnitus distress and association with psychological symptom patterns

Br J Clin Psychol. 1994 May;33(2):231-9. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1994.tb01117.x.

Abstract

Psychological complaints were investigated in two samples of 60 and 138 in-patients suffering from chronic tinnitus. We administered the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), a 52-item self-rating scale which differentiates between dimensions of emotional and cognitive distress, intrusiveness, auditory perceptual difficulties, sleep disturbances and somatic complaints. The test-retest reliability was .94 for the TQ global score and between .86 and .93 for subscales. Three independent analyses were conducted to estimate the split-half reliability (internal consistency) which was only slightly lower than the test-retest values for scales with a relatively small number of items. Reliability was sufficient also on the level of single items. Low correlation between the TQ and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) indicate a distinct quality of tinnitus-related and general psychological disturbances.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Health Status Indicators
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self-Assessment
  • Tinnitus / etiology
  • Tinnitus / psychology*