Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on short-term and long-term treatment of chronic tinnitus

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of anodal and cathodal methods in reducing the intensity of tinnitus and to compare them with the control. Methodology This randomized double-blind clinical trial with case and control groups was conducted in Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan between 2015 and 2016. In this trial, 51 patients with tinnitus, for at least one year, were selected among those outpatients visiting the throat, nose and ear clinic within this period. Inclusion criteria were patients on electrical stimulation prohibition, with Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, chronic headache, and pulsatile tinnitus. Patients were randomly divided in three equal-sized groups: anodal stimulation group, cathodal stimulation group, and control group. The subjects received 20-min current stimulation (2 mA). Five subjects were selected from those with a significant difference between the stimulated states (anodal or cathodal) and/or control. They received weekly transcranial electrical stimulation for two months, and their long-term recovery from tinnitus was investigated. Data analysis was done with SPSS20. Results Findings showed no significant between-groups difference in mean scores of tinnitus before the intervention (p = .68); whereas, this difference was significant immediately after the intervention (p = .02) and 1 h after it (p = .03). The mean score of tinnitus in the anodal stimulation group was significantly lower than the control; whereas, no significant difference was observed between the anodal and cathodal stimulation groups, and between the cathodal and control groups (p  Conclusion In conclusion, anodal stimulation was more effective than the cathodal and control stimulation in reducing the intensity of tinnitus in the short term.