Psychological side-effects
When tinnitus worsens, and also presents with other co-morbid conditions, it can gradually sum up to cause psychological symptoms. One of the few conditions in this aspect are discussed below
- Depression: tinnitus is not a fatal disease, but it can be significantly bothersome and its impact on so many aspects of the patient’s life can cause depression. Although, there is a restriction of recreational activities due to tinnitus, patients may also tend to avoid activities that they once enjoyed. Day to day life can become a challenge. All of this may cause mood disturbance and depression.
- Anxiety: as a result of personal and social abilities being compromised, patients may develop a constant fear or apprehension of new developments. This fear may be prompted by a constant feeling of being judged, or a perceived notion of self-depreciation and self-doubt. Loss of confidence can also be a feature of constant anxiety.
- Somatoform disorder: this disorder involves bodily symptoms like pain etc., which cannot be explained on a medical basis. The association of somatoform disorder and tinnitus is found to be 42%. Idiopathic tinnitus is more tightly linked to this disorder.