The Impact of Type D Personality on Health-Related Quality of Life in Tinnitus Patients Is Mainly Mediated by Anxiety and Depression

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Type D personality on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-reported tinnitus-related distress in chronic tinnitus patients and whether this relationship is mediated by indicators of psychological distress (i.e., vital exhaustion, anxiety, and depression). Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, 265 consecutive tinnitus patients were asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Maastricht Questionnaire, the Type D Scale (DS14), the Short-Form Health Survey 36, and the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of Type D was 35.5%. Type D patients were significantly more anxious, depressed, and vitally exhausted, and experienced more impaired HRQoL and increased tinnitus-related distress compared with non-Type D patients. Structural equation modeling showed that Type D personality directly increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not vital exhaustion. Type D was also a direct predictor of poor mental and physical HRQoL and increased tinnitus-related distress, although this influence was mainly mediated by symptoms of depression and anxiety. Anxiety, depression, and vital exhaustion had a direct influence on HRQoL and self-reported tinnitus-related distress, with a higher impact on mental HRQoL (R-2 = 0.74) compared with physical HRQoL (R-2 = 0.33). Vital exhaustion was a predictor of HRQoL and self-reported tinnitus-related distress; however, its influence was moderated by enhanced levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Tinnitus patients with a Type D personality were more likely to be anxious and depressed and to experience poor HRQoL and increased self-reported tinnitus-related distress, with the impact of Type D mainly being mediated by symptoms of anxiety and depression, although Type D also exerted a direct influence on these outcomes. These findings underline that to reduce the impact of tinnitus on HRQoL and self-reported tinnitus-related distress, treatment should be directed toward reducing anxiety and depression, especially in patients with a Type D personality.