Laure Jacquemin1,2, Giriraj Singh Shekhawat3,4, Paul Van de Heyning1,2, Griet Mertens1,2, Erik Fransen1,5,6, Vincent Van Rompaey1,2, Vedat Topsakal1,2, Julie Moyaert1, Jolien Beyers1,2, Annick Gilles1,2,7. 1. 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium. 2. 2 Faculty of Medicine, Campus Drie Eiken, Antwerp University, Wilrijk, Belgium. 3. 3 University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 4. 4 Tinnitus Research Initiative, Regensburg, Germany. 5. 5 Center for Medical Genetics, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. 6. 6 StatUa Center for Statistics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. 7. 7 Department of Human and Social Welfare, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Contradictory results have been reported for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as treatment for tinnitus. The recently developed high-definition tDCS (HD tDCS) uses smaller electrodes to limit the excitation to the desired brain areas. OBJECTIVE: The current study consisted of a retrospective part and a prospective part, aiming to compare 2 tDCS electrode placements and to explore effects of HD tDCS by matched pairs analyses. METHODS: Two groups of 39 patients received tDCS of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or tDCS of the right supraorbital-left temporal area (RSO-LTA). Therapeutic effects were assessed with the tinnitus functional index (TFI), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness, and the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ) filled out at 3 visits: pretherapy, posttherapy, and follow-up. With a new group of patients and in a similar way, the effects of HD tDCS of the right DLPFC were assessed, with the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) added. RESULTS: TFI total scores improved significantly after both tDCS and HD tDCS (DLPFC: P < .01; RSO-LTA: P < .01; HD tDCS: P = .05). In 32% of the patients, we observed a clinically significant improvement in TFI. The 2 tDCS groups and the HD tDCS group showed no differences on the evolution of outcomes over time (TFI: P = .16; HQ: P = .85; VAS: P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: TDCS and HD tDCS resulted in a clinically significant improvement in TFI in 32% of the patients, with the 3 stimulation positions having similar results. Future research should focus on long-term effects of electrical stimulation.
BACKGROUND: Contradictory results have been reported for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as treatment for tinnitus. The recently developed high-definition tDCS (HD tDCS) uses smaller electrodes to limit the excitation to the desired brain areas. OBJECTIVE: The current study consisted of a retrospective part and a prospective part, aiming to compare 2 tDCS electrode placements and to explore effects of HD tDCS by matched pairs analyses. METHODS: Two groups of 39 patients received tDCS of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) or tDCS of the right supraorbital-left temporal area (RSO-LTA). Therapeutic effects were assessed with the tinnitus functional index (TFI), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness, and the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ) filled out at 3 visits: pretherapy, posttherapy, and follow-up. With a new group of patients and in a similar way, the effects of HD tDCS of the right DLPFC were assessed, with the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) added. RESULTS: TFI total scores improved significantly after both tDCS and HD tDCS (DLPFC: P < .01; RSO-LTA: P < .01; HD tDCS: P = .05). In 32% of the patients, we observed a clinically significant improvement in TFI. The 2 tDCS groups and the HD tDCS group showed no differences on the evolution of outcomes over time (TFI: P = .16; HQ: P = .85; VAS: P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: TDCS and HD tDCS resulted in a clinically significant improvement in TFI in 32% of the patients, with the 3 stimulation positions having similar results. Future research should focus on long-term effects of electrical stimulation.
Entities:
Keywords:
high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD tDCS); neuromodulation; noninvasive brain stimulation; tinnitus; transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); treatment
Authors: Annemarie Van der Wal; Tine Luyten; Emilie Cardon; Laure Jacquemin; Olivier M Vanderveken; Vedat Topsakal; Paul Van de Heyning; Willem De Hertogh; Nancy Van Looveren; Vincent Van Rompaey; Sarah Michiels; Annick Gilles Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2020-05-12 Impact factor: 4.677