During recent years, scientists have investigated and documented a myriad of beneficial uses for repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) including the treatment of schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, Parkinson's disease, and OCD. One result discovered was that low frequency rTMS decreased auditory hallucinations in those who suffer from schizophrenia. A study is currently underway which will utilize rTMS to stimulate the brains of stroke victims in order to attempt to restore lost or damaged speaking ability.
A team of scientists at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, at the University of Regensburg, Germany have performed a series of studies using rTMS on people who suffer with tinnitus. Eleven people had a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan to locate areas of increased metabolic activity within the cortex. This was combined with a structural MRI scan to specifically locate the regaions of increased activity. A neuronavigational system was created for rTMS to allow pinpoint positioning of the magnetic coil over the target area.
The study had a controlled cross-over design. In other words, participants would be subjected to either the actual rTMS or a placebo treatment, then switch over to the other. Participants were unaware of the tinnitus stimulation. A specially created fake coil was used for the placebo treatment.
In 10 of the 11 participants the scientists were able to locate an increase in the metabolic activity within the left superior temporal fold of the auditory cortex. At the end of five days of rTMS treatment, a significant improvement of the tinnitus scores were reported utilizing the standard tinnitus questionnaire. This reported improvement was not found after the fake stimulation. These study findings were presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation annual conference in September, 2003.
It now seems that rTMS therapy displays much promise and could be the next major development in electrical stimulation for treating tinnitus without having the negative side effects of invasive therapies and damaged hearing. There still remain a number of unanswered questions, including; Is it safe? How long will the suppression last for? Will it be effective for all types of tinnitus? The goal is that future research will be able to answer these and many other questions.
rTMS is currently being regularly used to treat to patients in a number of countries throughout the world, a notable exception being the US. The FDA has not yet approved rTMS for regular use and has required monitoring by local review boards, limiting its use to clinical trials and non-cortical stimulation treatments.
Source: International Tinnitus Journal.Labels: Acute and Chronic Diseases and Syndromes, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
