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Electric field navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic tinnitus: A pilot study
Hanna Sahlsten1, Johan Isohanni2, Jorma Haapaniemi3
1a Department of Ear , Nose and Throat, Satakunta Central Hospital , Pori , Finland.
Objective:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown potential in reducing tinnitus symptoms. We evaluated effects of electric field (E-field) navigated rTMS targeted neuroanatomically according to tinnitus pitch.
Design:
In this open methodological pilot study, the patients received E-field navigated 1-Hz rTMS in daily treatment sessions to the left superior temporal gyrus, targeted according to tonotopic representation of their individual tinnitus pitch. Patients rated their tinnitus intensity and annoyance with a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10 at the baseline and after each rTMS session. They also rated their global impression of change (scale - 3 to + 3) after the treatment.
Study Sample:
Thirteen patients (mean age 53 years; 10 men, 3 women) with chronic, intractable tinnitus.
Results:
The mean intensity was 7.1 (SD 1.8) at the baseline, decreasing to 4.5 (SD 2.2) after the rTMS (p < 0.0001). The mean annoyance 7.0 (SD 1.8) at the baseline decreased to 4.0 (SD 2.4) after the treatment (p < 0.0001). Intensity diminished at least 30% in 8/13 patients and annoyance in 9/13 patients. A total of 10/13 patients felt subjective benefit from the treatment.
Conclusions:
These preliminary observations suggest that E-field-rTMS may improve the current treatment options for intractable tinnitus.
