Att hantera långvarigt lidande - effekter av Mindfulnessbaserad stressreduktion (MBSR) vid besvär av tinnitus

Sammanfattning: Coping with long-term suffering - Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on tinnitus distress Aim: To investigate whether the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program increases mindfulness skills, reduces tinnitus distress and whether there is any correlation between them for the 71 respondents in the study. Methods: Out of 71 respondents with tinnitus distress starting the program between 2010 and 2014 at the Hearing unit for adults in Malmoe (Sight, Hearing and Deafness Division, Department of the Habilitation and Assistive Technology Services, Region Scania, Sweden), 52 respondents (42 women and 10 men) completed MBSR and filled out the questionnaires before and after MBSR. 43 of the respondents (33 women and 10 men) also completed the questionnaires 6 months after MBSR. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and a questionnaire specifically designed for this study were compared. Results: Scores on the FFMQ and THI showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement with a mean ∆FFMQ (mindfulness skills) of +12,7 and mean ∆THI (tinnitus distress) of -9,1 between baseline and 6 months after MBSR (p <0,0005). Results of the correlation analysis showed a tendency for negative correlation between FFMQ and THI, indicating tendency that increased mindfulness skills correlates to decreased tinnitus distress. The specifically designed questionnaire showed that 85 % of the respondents after MBSR and 79 % of the respondents 6 months after MBSR experienced mindfulness as a way of coping with tinnitus. 98 % of the respondents after MBSR and 88 % of the respondents 6 months after MBSR experienced mindfulness as a way of coping with stress. 98 % of the respondents after MBSR and 91 % of the respondents 6 months after MBSR intended to continue mindfulness training. Conclusion: Participation in an MBSR program is associated with increased mindfulness skills, decreased tinnitus distress and motivation for continuous mindfulness training. This study provides preliminary evidence that MBSR may be a promising intervention for intrusive tinnitus and its comorbid symptoms. However further investigation with randomized controlled trial using FFMQ, THI or Tinnitus Functional Index is required.