DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0zpc8670s
title: Depression, anxiety and stress in chronic otitis media

description: Purpose: Persistent symptoms of chronic otitis media cause limitations in
 daily routine and social interactions, significantly influencing patients’
 quality of life and mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess
 the intensity of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in patients with
 chronic otitis media and to examine if patient demographic data,
 characteristics, and reported symptoms of otitis influence reported
 depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Material and Methods: The study
 included 316 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic
 otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Patients underwent a complete
 otological, audiological and radiological assessment. Chronic otitis media
 questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) was used to assess the impact of COM and
 Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used for depression,
 anxiety, and stress assessment. Results: Some levels of anxiety and stress
 were detected in 70.57% and 49.37% of the patients,
 respectively.  13.29% of the patients had scores indicating
 depression disorder. The mean value of the COMQ-12 questionnaire for this
 group of patients was 26.24 (SD±11.47) More intense symptoms of COM were
 significantly associated (p&lt;0.05) with higher scores on DASS-21
 subscales. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that
 significant positive predictors of higher anxiety scores were pure tone
 average (PTA) on the better and worse hearing ear (p&lt;0.05).
 Drainage from the ear, hearing problems at home, and tinnitus were
 significant positive predictors of a higher DASS-depression score.
 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The study confirmed a positive correlation
 between reported levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, the severity
 of COM symptoms, and quality of life. Levels of hearing in the better and
 worse hearing ear were significant positive predictors of anxiety and
 stress in patients with COM.
description: <strong>Study Design and
 Population</strong> A cross-sectional study was
 conducted on 316 patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral COM with
 or without cholesteatoma. Exclusion criteria were as follows: previously
 surgically treated COM with cholesteatoma (squamous) or without
 cholesteatoma (mucosal), the existence of any other otorhinolaryngology
 disease, and previous diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or any other
 psychiatric disorders.  In addition, the questionnaires
 were administered to a normative reference control group of 110 chosen
 among volunteers (medical students, hospital staff, and families of the
 authors). Each subject was examined by the authors (two
 otorhinolaryngologists and one psychiatrist) prior to filling out the
 questionnaires. Subjects who had pathological findings on their
 otorhinolaryngological exam, who had a history of COM, previous ear
 surgery, or had any other otorhinolaryngology disease were excluded from
 the study. Also, subjects with previous diagnoses of anxiety, depression,
 or any other psychiatric diseases, or who were prescribed psychiatric
 medication, were excluded from the study.  
 <strong>Clinical examinations and symptoms
 assessment</strong> All patients underwent
 complete otorhinolaryngology examination, otomicroscopy, pure-tone
 audiometry of both ears with air- and bone-conduction hearing levels and
 computerized tomography (CT) of the temporal bone. The normative reference
 volunteer group underwent otorhinolaryngology examination, otomicroscopy,
 pure-tone audiometry. Other data acquired from the patients and their
 medical history included age, sex, marriage/partnership status, level of
 education (primary school, secondary school, post-secondary education,
 higher education), and the duration of the disease (duration of up to 1
 year, from 1 to 3 years, from 3 to 5 years, duration over 5
 years). The COMQ-12 [11] was used to assess the impact
 of the disease.  The DASS-21[12,13] was used to assess
 depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. 
 <em>For the purpose of this data set, de-identification of
 data was done in order not to compromise participant privacy, according to
 the Ethical board decision. </em>
description: There are missing values in the data set.