Journal of Psychiatry

Repeated sessions of bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation for tinnitus treatment: a doubleblinded randomized controlled clinical trial

20^th Euro Congress on Psychiatrists and Psychologists

August 07-08, 2017 | Rome, Italy

Ali Yadollahpour, Miguel Mayo and Samaneh Rashidi

Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, Spain

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown therapeutic efficacy on chronic intractable tinnitus. However, the findings are controversial and most of the studies focused on the short-term effects of single session tDCS. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of repeated sessions of bilateral tDCS over auditory cortex (AC) on tinnitus loudness, tinnitus related distress, and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) score. Methods: A double-blinded randomized placebo controlled parallel trial was conducted on patients (n=40) with chronic intractable tinnitus (>2 years). Participants were randomly assigned into two groups of real bilateral tDCS (n=25), anode left/cathode right AC, or placebo treatment (n=15). Daily 20 min session of 2 mA current for 5 consecutive days per week and 2 consecutive weeks (total 10 sessions) with 35 cm2 electrodes were applied. THI was assessed before and after intervention, and at one month follow-up. The tinnitus loudness and distress were assessed using a 0-10 numerical visual analogue scale (VAS) before intervention, and immediately, one hour, one week and one month after last stimulation. Findings: Ten sessions anodal tDCS significantly reduced THI after last session and after 1-month follow-up (P < 0.001), in 18 of 25 participants. In addition, significant reducion in distress VAS and loudness VAS were found (P < 0.001). The sham tDCS showed no statistically significant differences for any response variables. Age, sex, evolution time, laterality, basal THI, basal distress and basal loudness VAS showed no significant correlation with the treatment response. Conclusion: The repeated sessions of bilateral tDCS over AC significantly improved the tinnitus symptoms and the improvements lasted one month after intervention. The repeated sessions of tDCS may serve as a potential therapeutic option for intractable and chronic tinnitus.

Biography :

Email: yadollahpour.a@gmail.com