Project R-16363

RAPID-TREAT: Research on Acute Psycho-educational Interventions for Distress in Tinnitus - Targeting Early Acute Treatment. (Research)

P - Tinnitus, the perception of a sound in the absence of an external sound source, causes a negative impact on the quality of life in 10% of patients leading to psychological burden. For chronic tinnitus patients, therefore, psychoeducation is of paramount importance often provided in the form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Acute tinnitus (AT) is defined when the tinnitus is present for less than 3 months. Due to long waiting lists, tinnitus support is often postponed. As such, the known psychological tinnitus burden may occur over time due to the associated problems such as anxiety, depression, sleeping problems etc. caused by tinnitus over time. I - The current project suggests a preventive measure in the form of a psycho-educational program made available to AT patients through a web based e-learning care path. A comparative, blinded randomized-controlled trial will be performed. C - Patients presenting themselves with AT will be randomized into two groups. The active group receives the web based e-learning platform containing a 10-day psychoeducation tinnitus program. The control group does not receive any additional tinnitus guidance in the acute phase (= current standard of care). The Tinnitus Functional Index, a questionnaire reflecting the tinnitus burden, will serve as the primary outcome at second follow-up (12-16 weeks after baseline) in order to compare the difference in tinnitus evolution in this period of time and/or the occurrence of psychological tinnitus burden when the tinnitus remains over time and becomes chronic (follow-up measurements at 6 months). It is our hypothesis that the patients in the active group show lower tinnitus burden both in shorter as well as longer time frames. O – The cost-effectiveness of an web based platform for AT patients will be assessed and disseminated free of cotst to other caregivers at the end of the project.

01 January 2026 - 31 December 2029