Psychological constructs measured by the MCMI-III and 16PF5 of subjective tinnitus sufferers : an exploratory quantitative study

Abstract

In research on tinnitus, it is recognised that various psychological factors play a role in whether an individual is negatively impacted by the symptoms of tinnitus. In this exploratory study, through the use of descriptive statistical analysis of the data obtained from the MCMI-III and 16PF5 of tinnitus sufferers, possible psychological constructs can be identified as being present in subjective tinnitus sufferers. Scarce research on tinnitus stemming from or being exacerbated by various psychological constructs is found in South Africa. Many studies exist outside of South Africa; however, the results of these studies need to be verified in terms of the South African population. The study used previously administered protocols of the MCMI-III and the 16PF5 of subjective tinnitus sufferers in order to explore the psychological constructs in the form of test scales using descriptive statistical analysis on the protocol data. By investigating possible psychological constructs present in a sample of individuals with subjective tinnitus, the aim is to be able to make recommendations on possible focus areas for future research. The results of the study suggest the most significant finding related to the global factors of the 16PF5 is that 84.6% of the participants can be classified as accommodating. None of the participants can be described as independent, extraverted or abstract. More than half of the participants can be described as deferential and shy. None of the participants measured as self-assured. On the MCMI-III very few significant elevations were present. On the Anxiety scale 38.5% of participants fell into the insignificant and significant categories respectively. This is the only result for the MCMI-III where the insignificant score is not the highest, and thus is a noteworthy finding.

Keywords: Cognitive behavioural therapy; Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III; Psychological constructs; Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire; Tinnitus.