rTMS To The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex For Patients With Subjective Idiopathic Tinnitus. A Pilot Study

This is an interventional treatment trial for Tinnitus focused on measuring tinnitus Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be between the ages of 18 and 60 years.
• Subjective, idiopathic, troublesome, unilateral or bilateral, non-pulsatile tinnitus of ≥ 6 month's duration..
• Tinnitus handicap score of 38 or greater on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.
• Must be able to understand, speak, read, and write English proficiently
• Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with tinnitus related to cochlear implantation, retrocochlear lesion, or other known anatomic/structural lesions of the ear and temporal bone. Patients with a history of stapedectomy and insertion of implant may be included if their prosthesis is magnetically safe (MRI compatible up to and including 3T). Patient must be able to provide documentation from surgeon regarding manufacturer information of prosthesis before they will be considered into study.
• Hypersensitive to noises (hyperacusis)
• Patients with cardiac pacemakers; intracardiac lines; implanted medication pumps; implanted electrodes in the brain; other implanted electrical or magnetic medical devices; or other intracranial metal objects or shrapnel, with the exception of dental fillings and MRI compatible stapedectomies or any other contraindication for MRI scan
• Patients with additional significant neurological disorders including increased intracranial pressure, brain mass, epileptic seizures (or family history of epileptic seizures), history of stroke, transient ischemic attack within 2 years, cerebral aneurysm, Huntington's chorea or multiple sclerosis.
• Patients with an acute or unstable medical condition including all patients with any significant heart disease, heart murmur, pneumonia, acute GI bleed, uncontrolled hypertension, or other disorders which would require stabilization prior to initiation of transcranial magnetic stimulation.
• Active alcohol and/or drug dependence or history of alcohol and/or drug dependence within the last year.
• Patients with clinical depression as evidenced by a score of 18 or greater on the Beck Depression Inventory98 or who or, in the opinion of the psychiatric sub-investigator demonstrates active mood symptoms that meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for Major Depressive Disorder
• Patients with psychological illness or trauma which would prohibit participation in the study.
• Female patients of child-bearing potential, unless sterilized or using an appropriate form of birth control acceptable to the research team.
• Currently breastfeeding
• Currently pregnant
• Patients will be excluded if a motor threshold cannot be elicited
• Patients who or are taking over-the-counter or prescribed medication administered for the treatment of any psychiatric or neurologic disorder or any other known CNS active drugs, including herbal, over-the-counter, and homeopathic medications, MAOIs, other antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
• Patients whose ability to give informed consent is in question
• Undiagnosed symptomatic hypertension: (for this study defined as systolic blood pressures above 140 mm or diastolic pressure above 90 mm). Subject will be referred to their PCP and not allowed to continue in screening without a note from the PCP stating that they are under his care and have been asymptomatic and with subject's hypertension controlled for at least 3 months.
• Undiagnosed asymptomatic hypertension: (for this study defined as systolic blood pressures above 140 mm or diastolic pressure above 90 mm). Subject will be allowed to continue in the screening process at the discretion of the PI. However, the subject will be referred to his PCP and not allowed to start treatment without a note from his PCP stating that either he was evaluated and his blood