SELF-IDENTIFIED MISOPHONIA PHENOMENOLOGY, IMPACT, AND CLINICAL CORRELATES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37708/psyct.v13i2.454

Keywords:

misophonia, anger, comorbidity, phenomenology, impairment

Abstract

Misophonia is a newly recognized condition involving adverse emotional reactions to environmental sounds, most often produced by other people. This study reports results of a survey describing the phenomenology of misophonia based on a large sample.  Survey data were collected from individuals self-identified as having misophonia. A total of 1,061 individuals reported specific distressing reactions to sounds, and responses indicating severity of misophonia and perceived comorbidity. Over 82% of respondents were female. The average age of the study participants was 37.49 years (SD = 12.24; range from 18 to 72). Most respondents reported multiple triggers and adverse emotional reactions, as well as multiple coping responses. The majority of respondents reported comorbid diagnoses. Misophonia severity is described, as well as impact on quality of life. A minority of respondents had some experience with treatment and most reported no change in symptoms.  Treatments reported for misophonia were typically ineffective, and once developed, misophonia symptoms persist. The results of the study showed that misophonia is a newly recognized condition that appears to have important impact on people’s lives. It typically develops in early life, and is associated with a reduced quality of life, substantial comorbidity, negative emotional experiences, and behaviors that are likely to impact interpersonal relationships.

Author Biographies

  • James M Claiborn

    James Claiborn Ph.D., is a psychologist in clinical practice in South Portland, Maine. He specializes in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and related disorders using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He has extensive training in CBT and he also provides training and supervision in CBT.
    He is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation. He also holds a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis.

  • Thomas H Dozier, Misophonia Institute

    Thomas Dozier, MS, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in private, behavioral consultation practice in Livermore, California.  He has researched and provided treatment for misophonia for over 7 years.  He is the author of Understanding and Overcoming Misophonia, A Conditioned Aversive Reflex Disorder and has several published journal articles on misophonia.  He developed the conditioned physical reflex theory of misophonia and has applied this theory to develop effective behavioral treatment for misophonia.  He is the founder and president of Misophonia Institute, a non-profit organization for promotion of misophonia awareness, research, and treatment.

  • Stephanie L Hart, Texas Tech University
    Stephanie Hartis an Assistant Professor of Practice in Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership at Texas Tech University. She teaches courses in the Graduate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis and in the Undergraduate Teacher Education program. Her current research projects include developing training programs for Behavior Analysts, for instructors who teach courses in Special Education and classroom and behavior management, and for teachers of students with autism. These projects allow collaboration with the TTUHSC Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic; the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research; the Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis, and Policy (IMMAP), the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC), and local school districts. Dr. Hart is a certified teacher in general education and special education and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst—Doctoral level. 
  • Jaehoon Lee, Texas Tech University

    Jaehoon Lee is an assistant professor of Educational Psychology and Leadership—Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics (REMS) program at Texas Tech University. He is also a faculty associate of Texas Tech University Health Science Center and an adjunct assistant professor of Baylor College of Medicine. He has a broad background in methodology, with specific training and expertise in modern research design and advanced statistical methods. His recent research involves evaluating mixture models and Bayesian SEM models with regard to data environments and prior distributions.

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Published

2020-10-30

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Research Articles

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