Tinnitus from the perspective of the psychologist.

Tinnitus is always both a medical and a psychological phenomenon, indicating the need for intervention from a psychologist. The primary goal of psychological interventions is to improve the patient's ability to reduce the impact of tinnitus on the quality of life, i.e., to teach and improve coping strategies. This chapter discusses the kinds of services offered for tinnitus patients through psychological intervention. Psychological approaches can offer assessment and management of tinnitus. Tinnitus always has to be regarded as being both a medical and a psychological phenomenon. Even if there is a medical reason for the emergence of tinnitus (e.g., hair cell damage), it is the brain that generates the inner noise when interpreting an altered pattern of nerve signals. This 'abnormal' perception is further processed by the brain, and then psychological factors come in to play an important role regarding how the tinnitus is evaluated and coped with. Nevertheless, when proposing a 'psychological dimension' of tinnitus, it does not mean that tinnitus is a mental disorder. To classify patients with tinnitus on the basis of hypothesized underlying medical conditions as 'organic' or 'nonorganic' (respectively 'psychogenic') is not reasonable either. Likewise, it is not at all advisable to attempt to modify the patient's personality. Instead, the consequences of tinnitus (i.e., behavior and cognition regarding tinnitus) must be made the central issue in psychological assessment and intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Accession Number: 2010-26189-025. Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Greimel, Karoline V.; Salzburg University Hospital, Salzburg, Austria. Release Date: 20110523. Correction Date: 20160616. Publication Type: Book (0200), Edited Book (0280). Format Covered: Print. Document Type: Chapter. Book Type: Textbook/Study Guide. ISBN: 978-1-60761-144-8, Hardcover; 978-1-60761-145-5, PDF. Language: English. Major Descriptor: Psychological Assessment; Psychologists; Psychotherapeutic Counseling; Tinnitus. Minor Descriptor: Coping Behavior; Interdisciplinary Treatment Approach; Intervention. Classification: Professional Psychological & Health Personnel Issues (3400); Vision & Hearing & Sensory Disorders (3299). Population: Human (10). Intended Audience: Psychology: Professional & Research (PS). References Available: Y. Page Count: 6.