Mindfulness Application Effects on Mental Health Symptoms in Children With Severe Tinnitus and Misophonia

Description

Children with "bothersome" tinnitus and misophonia have elevated anxiety and depression symptoms. The mainstay therapy for adults and children with these disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT resources are expensive and scarce for the pediatric population. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has been shown in the adult population to be a proxy for CBT for several mental health disorders. There is sufficient published evidence that IVR is useful in treating adults with anxiety and depression disorders. However, the evidence in children in treating either anxiety and depression symptoms or disorder is scant. Our group views IVR application as a promising medical device to decrease anxiety and depression scores in children with tinnitus and misophonia disorders. This is a randomized placebo control (single-blinded to the study subjects) study in which there will be a 2:1 ratio between the experimental and placebo subjects, receiving either active IVR or placebo exposure. A total of 30 subjects with 20 experimental (10 tinnitus, 10 misophonia subjects) and 10 placebo (5 tinnitus and 5 misophonia subjects) will enroll in this randomized clinical trial. Assessment of change of quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms will be based on 5 validated instruments. The 5 validated instruments are: Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MIS-S), Pediatric Quality of Life PEDQL), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ).

Conditions

Tinnitus, Misophonia

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Children with "bothersome" tinnitus and misophonia have elevated anxiety and depression symptoms. The mainstay therapy for adults and children with these disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT resources are expensive and scarce for the pediatric population. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has been shown in the adult population to be a proxy for CBT for several mental health disorders. There is sufficient published evidence that IVR is useful in treating adults with anxiety and depression disorders. However, the evidence in children in treating either anxiety and depression symptoms or disorder is scant. Our group views IVR application as a promising medical device to decrease anxiety and depression scores in children with tinnitus and misophonia disorders. This is a randomized placebo control (single-blinded to the study subjects) study in which there will be a 2:1 ratio between the experimental and placebo subjects, receiving either active IVR or placebo exposure. A total of 30 subjects with 20 experimental (10 tinnitus, 10 misophonia subjects) and 10 placebo (5 tinnitus and 5 misophonia subjects) will enroll in this randomized clinical trial. Assessment of change of quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms will be based on 5 validated instruments. The 5 validated instruments are: Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MIS-S), Pediatric Quality of Life PEDQL), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ).

Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality Mindfulness Application on Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Children With Severe Tinnitus and Misophonia - A Pilot Study

Mindfulness Application Effects on Mental Health Symptoms in Children With Severe Tinnitus and Misophonia

Condition
Tinnitus
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Aurora

Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80218

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Children between the ages of 10 to 18 years
  • * All genders and ethnicities
  • * Patients who meet criteria for "severe" symptoms of tinnitus and misophonia as scored by TIF and A-MISO-S
  • * Severe developmental delay as not to understand verbal instructions necessary to complete the VR application/sham exposure.
  • * Severe visual impairment (refractive disorders are acceptable)
  • * Patients with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss of any type.
  • * History of seizure disorder

Ages Eligible for Study

10 Years to 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Colorado, Denver,

Study Record Dates

2025-12-15