Tinnitus and depression
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Depressive symptoms are common in individuals with tinnitus and may substantially aggravate their distress. The mechanisms, however, by which depression and tinnitus mutually interact are still not fully understood. METHODS: Here we review neurobiological knowledge relevant for the interplay between depression and tinnitus. RESULTS: Neuroimaging studies confirm the existence of neural circuits that are activated both in depression and tinnitus. Studies of neuroendocrine function demonstrate alterations of the HPA-axis in depression and, more recently, in tinnitus. Studies addressing neurotransmission suggest that the dorsal cochlear nucleus that is typically hyperactive in tinnitus, is also involved in the control of attention and emotional responses via projections to the locus coeruleus, the reticular formation and the raphe nuclei. Impaired hippocampal neurogenesis has been documented in animals with tinnitus after noise trauma, as in animal models of depression. Finally, from investigations of human candidate genes, there is some evidence to suggest that variant BDNF may act as a common susceptibility factor in both disorders. CONCLUSIONS: These parallels in the pathophysiology of tinnitus and depression argue against comorbidity by chance and against depression as pure reaction on tinnitus. Instead, they stand for a complex interplay between tinnitus and depression. Implications for tinnitus treatment are discussed.
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The higher the severity of tinnitus, the greater the likelihood of comorbidity.
“The higher the severity of tinnitus, the greater the likelihood of comorbidity (Langguth et al., 2011; Beukes et al., 2021).”
From Research trends and hotspots of cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus: a bibliometric analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Langguth et al., 2011
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Research trends and hotspots of cognitive behavioral therapy for tinnitus: a bibliometric analysis
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- Authors
- Langguth, B., Landgrebe, M., Kleinjung, T., Sand, G. P., & Hajak, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Regensburg (DE)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Langguth, Berthold
- Venue
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-05-13
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 489-500
- ISSN
- 1562-2975 (ISSN-L)
- 1814-1412
- OpenAlex
- W2133836198
- Cited by
- 321
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 11.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Noise Effects and Management
- Keywords
- tinnitus, depression, comorbidities, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, dorsal cochlear nucleus, locus coeruleus, hippocampal neurogenesis, acoustic trauma, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotransmission, neural circuits, tinnitus treatment
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Humans, Tinnitus
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