Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in veterans with debilitating tinnitus: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Available evidence suggests tinnitus arises from excessive spontaneous activity in the left superior temporal gyrus, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may suppress this activity. Our hypothesis is that rTMS applied to this region would decrease tinnitus complaints in veterans.


METHODS
Prospective, nonrandomized trial.


METHODS
Eight patients with tinnitus received 5 consecutive days of rTMS (0.5 Hz, 20 minutes) to the left temporoparietal area. Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) measures before sessions 1 and 3 and after session 5 were used to evaluate efficacy.


RESULTS
Patient 1's THI decreased 40 to 34 to 26, patient 4 reported a subjective improvement, patient 8 withdrew, and the remaining patients reported no improvement. Adverse effects included temporary soreness, restlessness, and photophobia.


CONCLUSIONS
The parameters for this rTMS study are different from those that reported success with its use. With these current parameters, rTMS did not improve tinnitus in veterans. There were no permanent adverse outcomes.
Lee
Scott L
SL
Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. leesl@mail.amc.edu
Abraham
Megan
M
Cacace
Anthony T
AT
Silver
Steven M
SM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D014728:Veterans