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Updated: Mar 27, 2026

A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
Auditory and visual 3D virtual reality therapy as a new treatment for chronic subjective tinnitus: Results of a
D Malinvaud1, A Londero2, R Niarra3
1Department of ENT and CNRS UMR 8119, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Faculté de médecine Paris Descartes, Université Paris 5, Paris, France; Center of Neurophysics, Physiology and Pathology (CN2P), CNRS UMR 8119, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
Background:
Subjective tinnitus (ST) is a frequent audiologic condition that still requires effective treatment. This study aimed at evaluating two therapeutic approaches: Virtual Reality (VR) immersion in auditory and visual 3D environments and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
Methods:
This open, randomized and therapeutic equivalence trial used bilateral testing of VR versus CBT. Adult patients displaying unilateral or predominantly unilateral ST, and fulfilling inclusion criteria were included after giving their written informed consent. We measured the different therapeutic effect by comparing the mean scores of validated questionnaires and visual analog scales, pre and post protocol. Equivalence was established if both strategies did not differ for more than a predetermined limit. We used univariate and multivariate analysis adjusted on baseline values to assess treatment efficacy. In addition of this trial, purely exploratory comparison to a waiting list group (WL) was provided.
Results:
Between August, 2009 and November, 2011, 148 of 162 screened patients were enrolled (VR n = 61, CBT n = 58, WL n = 29). These groups did not differ at baseline for demographic data. Three month after the end of the treatment, we didn't find any difference between VR and CBT groups either for tinnitus severity (p = 0.99) or tinnitus handicap (p = 0.36).
Conclusion:
VR appears to be at least as effective as CBT in unilateral ST patients.
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