Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has already been used to manage tinnitus patients, paucity of reports and variations in protocols preclude a comprehensive understanding. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis based on systemic review to assess effectiveness of tDCS in tinnitus m...

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Main Authors: Jae-Jin Song, Sven Vanneste, Paul Van de Heyning, Dirk De Ridder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/427941
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author Jae-Jin Song
Sven Vanneste
Paul Van de Heyning
Dirk De Ridder
author_facet Jae-Jin Song
Sven Vanneste
Paul Van de Heyning
Dirk De Ridder
author_sort Jae-Jin Song
collection DOAJ
description Although transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has already been used to manage tinnitus patients, paucity of reports and variations in protocols preclude a comprehensive understanding. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis based on systemic review to assess effectiveness of tDCS in tinnitus management and to compare stimulation parameters. PubMed was searched for tDCS studies in tinnitus. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a meta-analysis was performed. A total of 17 studies were identified and 6 of them were included in the systemic review and 2 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall 39.5% responded to active tDCS with a mean tinnitus intensity reduction of 13.5%. Additionally, left temporal area (LTA) and bifrontal tDCS indicated comparable results. Active tDCS was found to be more effective than sham tDCS for tinnitus intensity reduction (Hedges' g=.77, 95% confidence interval 0.23–1.31). The efficacy of tDCS in tinnitus could not be fully confirmed by the current study because of the limited number of studies, but all studies included in the current systemic review and meta-analysis demonstrated significant tinnitus intensity improvement. Therefore, tDCS may be a promising tool for tinnitus management. Future RCTs in a large series regarding the efficacy as well as the comparison between LTA- and bifrontal tDCS are recommended.
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spelling doaj-art-1377b70d0de741ae9a59189ce99c0f9e2025-08-20T02:04:49ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/427941427941Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-AnalysisJae-Jin Song0Sven Vanneste1Paul Van de Heyning2Dirk De Ridder3Brain, TRI & Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, BelgiumBrain, TRI & Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, BelgiumDepartment of Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, BelgiumBrain, TRI & Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, BelgiumAlthough transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has already been used to manage tinnitus patients, paucity of reports and variations in protocols preclude a comprehensive understanding. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis based on systemic review to assess effectiveness of tDCS in tinnitus management and to compare stimulation parameters. PubMed was searched for tDCS studies in tinnitus. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a meta-analysis was performed. A total of 17 studies were identified and 6 of them were included in the systemic review and 2 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall 39.5% responded to active tDCS with a mean tinnitus intensity reduction of 13.5%. Additionally, left temporal area (LTA) and bifrontal tDCS indicated comparable results. Active tDCS was found to be more effective than sham tDCS for tinnitus intensity reduction (Hedges' g=.77, 95% confidence interval 0.23–1.31). The efficacy of tDCS in tinnitus could not be fully confirmed by the current study because of the limited number of studies, but all studies included in the current systemic review and meta-analysis demonstrated significant tinnitus intensity improvement. Therefore, tDCS may be a promising tool for tinnitus management. Future RCTs in a large series regarding the efficacy as well as the comparison between LTA- and bifrontal tDCS are recommended.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/427941
spellingShingle Jae-Jin Song
Sven Vanneste
Paul Van de Heyning
Dirk De Ridder
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
The Scientific World Journal
title Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_short Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Tinnitus Patients: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
title_sort transcranial direct current stimulation in tinnitus patients a systemic review and meta analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/427941
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AT svenvanneste transcranialdirectcurrentstimulationintinnituspatientsasystemicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT paulvandeheyning transcranialdirectcurrentstimulationintinnituspatientsasystemicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT dirkderidder transcranialdirectcurrentstimulationintinnituspatientsasystemicreviewandmetaanalysis