Comparison of two protocols of transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of chronic tinnitus: a randomized controlled clinical trial of burst repetitive versus high-frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Neurol Sci. 2014 Feb;35(2):227-32. doi: 10.1007/s10072-013-1487-5. Epub 2013 Jul 13.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two techniques of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to treat chronic tinnitus; continuous Theta Burst Stimulation (cTBS) and high-frequency rTMS. In a controlled randomized clinical trial, 55 patients with chronic tinnitus were randomly divided in two groups. They received four sessions of treatment. cTBS was tested on one group and high-frequency rTMS (10 Hz) was tested on the other. Severity of the tinnitus was assessed before treatment, after the last treatment session and then 1-month later. Both the treatments of high-frequency and cTBS had a suppressive effect on tinnitus. However, cTBS was more effective than high-frequency rTMS (P = 0.001). This study suggests that rTMS even in four sessions is effective in reducing tinnitus severity; moreover, compared to high-frequency TMS better results can be achieved with cTBS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Auditory Cortex
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Tinnitus / therapy*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult