Prevalence of Psychological Disorders in Patients with Fungal Otitis Externa.

Introduction: Otomycosis is the infectious or non-infectious inflammation of the external auditory canal. Symptoms such as ear ringing and hearing loss significantly affect the individuals’ daily lives, leading to consequences such as dependency, irritability, depression, anxiety, and communication disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychological disorders in patients with fungal otitis externa. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022-2023 in Masih Daneshvari Hospital. A total of 150 eligible individuals with fungal otitis externa attending the ENT clinic were included in the study. Data were collected using the SCL-25 questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS-16 software. Results: Among the 150 study participants, 60% were female, and 40% were male. The severity of psychological disorders showed no significant correlation with gender, education, or age. Most individuals exhibited moderate severity of psychological disorders. Physical complaints, anxiety disorders, and depression had the highest scores among psychological disorders. Items such as psychosis, paranoid disorders, and hypochondriasis showed the least severity in our studied population. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a significant level of psychological disorders in patients with otomycosis. These findings suggest the considerable severity of psychological disorders, emphasizing the need for their assessment and, if necessary, treatment.