Trial results for a study investigating neurobiological similarities in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Tinnitus were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-07-08, with an analysis showing a p-value of 0.01 for resting-state functional MRI measurements.
Background
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. The interplay between these two conditions is complex; psychiatric distress from PTSD may heighten attention to tinnitus, potentially increasing its perceived loudness and discomfort. Understanding the negative interaction between tinnitus-related distress and PTSD is crucial for developing more effective therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to explore symptoms and neurobiological mechanisms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to gain insights necessary for developing interventions for individuals affected by both conditions.
Trial design
This completed study, titled "Neurobiological Similarities of Tinnitus and PTSD", enrolled 64 participants across four distinct groups: individuals with both Tinnitus and PTSD, those with Tinnitus Only, those with PTSD Only, and Healthy Controls. The study aimed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of tinnitus and PTSD, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess brain activity.
Key results
The study collected resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data across the participant groups. Key measurements, expressed as Z-Scores, were reported as follows:
- For one set of resting-state fMRI measurements:
- The Tinnitus and PTSD (T+P) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.55 (Standard Deviation: 0.33).
- The Tinnitus Only (TO) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.35 (Standard Deviation: 0.24).
- The PTSD Only (PO) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.29 (Standard Deviation: 0.22).
- The Healthy Controls group had a mean Z-Score of 0.59 (Standard Deviation: 0.28).
- For a second set of resting-state fMRI measurements:
- The Tinnitus and PTSD (T+P) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.46 (Standard Deviation: 0.18).
- The Tinnitus Only (TO) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.36 (Standard Deviation: 0.20).
- The PTSD Only (PO) group had a mean Z-Score of 0.47 (Standard Deviation: 0.27).
- The Healthy Controls group had a mean Z-Score of 0.54 (Standard Deviation: 0.28).
- For a third set of resting-state fMRI measurements:
- The Tinnitus and PTSD (T+P) group had a mean Z-Score of 1.80 (Standard Deviation: 0.49).
- The Tinnitus Only (TO) group had a mean Z-Score of 1.67 (Standard Deviation: 0.44).
- The PTSD Only (PO) group had a mean Z-Score of 1.68 (Standard Deviation: 0.45).
- The Healthy Controls group had a mean Z-Score of 1.95 (Standard Deviation: 0.38).
A statistical analysis using a 2-sided t-test yielded a p-value of 0.01, indicating a significant difference in fMRI measurements across the groups.
What this means
The posted results, including varying resting-state fMRI Z-scores and a statistically significant p-value of 0.01 from a t-test, suggest that there are distinct neurobiological patterns associated with the presence of Tinnitus, PTSD, or both conditions, compared to healthy controls. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms involved in these conditions, particularly their co-occurrence. Such insights are foundational for developing more targeted and effective therapeutic approaches for individuals suffering from both tinnitus and PTSD, as well as for those with either condition alone.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05981391, titled "Neurobiological Similarities of Tinnitus and PTSD", were posted on 2025-07-08 on clinicaltrials.gov.