Use of a self-help book with weekly therapist contact to reduce tinnitus distress: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Tinnitus distress can be reduced by means of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). To compensate for the shortage of CBT therapists, we aimed, in this study, to investigate the effects of a CBT-based self-help book guided by brief telephone support.

Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomized either to a self-help book and seven weekly phone calls or to a wait-list control condition, later on receiving the self-help book with less therapist support.