ABSTRACT
Objective: Our aim was to estimate prevalence rates of different headache forms among tinnitus patients in Arabia, to investigate whether there is a relationship between tinnitus laterality and headache laterality in patients with unilateral tinnitus and unilateral headache, to explore the relationship between tinnitus and headache over time, and to know the effect of headache pain medications in tinnitus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Method: The study is a quantitative observational cross-sectional study with a convenient sample by data from patients with tinnitus. The participants received a self-administrated electronic questionnaire measuring demographics, prevalence of an associated headache, and the relationship between tinnitus and headache. Results: A total of 226 patients enrolled themselves into the study, and all of them came from the capital city Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. 58% were females, and the remainder of them were males. Females reported significantly more ear tinnitus than males, and patients aged 51 years or older were significantly less inclined to report ear tinnitus compared to those younger; however, those aged 20-31 years were found to be significantly more inclined to report ear tinnitus. There was a statistically significant association between patients experiencing headaches and those experiencing ear tinnitus. Surprisingly, patients who take medications of any type to alleviate their headaches were significantly less inclined to report ear tinnitus than those who do not take medications. However, patients with ear tinnitus experienced longer headache duration in years than those who had no history of tinnitus. Moreover, those people who experienced right-sided tinnitus tended to report significantly more right-sided headaches, and the same goes for left-sided headaches. Conclusion: Our results showed that there is a relationship between headaches and tinnitus. Painkillers also showed a protective effect against tinnitus. High awareness about the relationship between headaches and tinnitus among physicians and patients may lead to early recognition and lead to early implementation of primary prevention, which is the cornerstone of family medicine practice, and treatment without referring to other specialties. However, the pathophysiology is still not clear. Further studies should be performed to know the pathophysiology.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders are common in Saudi Arabia with a 34% lifetime prevalence. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is an evidence-based intervention for the majority of mental disorders. Although the demand for CBT is increasing, unfortunately, there are few therapists available to meet this demand and the therapy is expensive. Computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (cCBT) is a new modality that can help fill this gap. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to measure the knowledge of cCBT among mental health care professionals in Saudi Arabia, and to evaluate their attitudes and preferences toward cCBT. METHODS: This quantitative observational cross-sectional study used a convenience sample, selecting mental health care professionals working in the tertiary hospitals of Saudi Arabia. The participants received a self-administered electronic questionnaire through data collectors measuring their demographics, knowledge, and attitudes about cCBT, and their beliefs about the efficacy of using computers in therapy. RESULTS: Among the 121 participating mental health care professionals, the mean age was 36.55 years and 60.3% were women. Most of the participants expressed uncertainty and demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding cCBT. However, the majority of participants indicated a positive attitude toward using computers in therapy. Participants agreed with the principles of cCBT, believed in its efficacy, and were generally confident in using computers. Among the notable results, participants having a clinical license and with cCBT experience had more knowledge of cCBT. The overall attitude toward cCBT was not affected by demographic or work-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health care professionals in Saudi Arabia need more education and training regarding cCBT; however, their attitude toward its use and their comfort in using computers in general show great promise. Further research is needed to assess the acceptance of cCBT by patients in Saudi Arabia, in addition to clinical trials measuring its effectiveness in the Saudi population.
