Long-term tDCS Tinnitus Treatment

Tinnitus Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment of Tinnitus and Its Psychiatric Comorbidities

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05437185
• Other study ID #: 531/19 S-IV
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2019
• Est. completion date: February 28, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: June 2022
• Source: Charles University, Czech Republic
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The study was designed to evaluate a therapeutic effect of tDCS in the treatment of tinnitus and its comorbidities (anxiety, depresion) and to evaluate the associated quality of life.

In the randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial, 39 participants (active n=19, sham n=20) underwent bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tDCS (anode over right DLPFC, cathode left DLPFC, current of 1.5 mA, 20 minutes, 6 sessions in 2 weeks). Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (ITHQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and WHO-Quality of Life-BREF were employed in 4 evaluation points, including the follow-ups of 6 weeks and six months.

Description:

A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, two-arm trial was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry, General University Hospital in Prague, Czechia. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of General University Hospital in Prague, Czechia, in 2019 under the reference number 531/19 S-IV.

Participants were recruited through the recruitment campaign of the Department of Psychiatry, which was supported by outpatient services of several neurological, psychiatric, internal, and otorhinolaryngological departments in several university hospitals around Prague. All participants were required to sign written consent with the trial, anonymized data, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and were fully informed about the trial's goals, risks, and requirements. Participation was not associated with any financial reward.

The participation was offered to persons at least 18 years of age (on the day of signing the consent) with a history of tinnitus lasting at least six months. The investigators excluded persons contraindicated to tDCS - such as those with epilepsy, intracranial masses or metallic objects, pregnancy, and heart conditions. The investigators also excluded persons with a history of alcohol and drug abuse, persons unwilling to sign the informed consent or persons who underwent any other tinnitus therapy in the last six months. The investigators intended to discontinue the treatment in any participant developing any severe adverse effect (significant exacerbation of tinnitus, epileptic seizure, severe headache, or any adverse effect deemed severe enough by the participants) and in participants noncompliant or unwilling to participate further with the trial and its follow-ups. The investigators required the participants not to alter their medication at least six months before the trial if any was used.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 44
• Est. completion date: February 28, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: February 28, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Nonpulsatile tinnitus for at least 6 months

• 18 and more years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy

• Unstable cardiovascular condition

• History of seizures

• Intracranial masses

• Intracranial metalic objects

• History of alcohol or drug abuse

• Unwillingness to sign the informed consent

• Inability to pass the follow-up

• Unstable medication for at least 6 months prior to the enrollment

• Other stimulation method for at least 6 months prior to the enrollmment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Tinnitus

Intervention

Device:
• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory method utilizing weak electrical currents to elicit short and long-term central nervous system changes.
• Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
The sham was administered using the same tDCS devices as in the active group with a preprogrammed sham protocol of 20 minutes to be virtually indistinguishable from the active stimulation.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Czechia	Psychiatric Department, General University Hospital and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Prague	Prague	Czech Republic

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Charles University, Czech Republic

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Czechia, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at T1 (baseline)	A questionaire evaluating 8 subdomains of tinnitus. A total minimal score=0, maximum score=250. Higher score means generally more severe form of tinnitus.	The measurement was established as a baseline prior to the stimulation series. (at T1)
Primary	Changes in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at T2	Changes compared to the baseline (T2-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T2 (after the 6th stimulation, 2 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at T3	Changes compared to the baseline (T3-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T3 (6 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at T4	Changes compared to the baseline (T4-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T4 (6 months since T1)
Primary	Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire version 1 (ITHQ) at T1 (baseline)	A questionnaire evaluating 3 subdomains of tinnitus and its handicap. A total minimal score=0 %, maximum score=100%. Higher score means generally more severe form of tinnitus.	The measurement was established as a baseline prior to the stimulation series. (at T1)
Primary	Changes in Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire version 1 (ITHQ) at T2	Changes compared to the baseline (T2-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T2 (after the 6th stimulation, 2 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire version 1 (ITHQ) at T3	Changes compared to the baseline (T3-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T3 (6 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire version 1 (ITHQ) at T4	Changes compared to the baseline (T4-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T4 (6 months since T1)
Primary	Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at T1 (baseline)	A standardized questionaire to evaluate the symptoms of anxiety. Minimum=0 points, maximum=63 points. A higher score means generally more severe anxiety.	The measurement was established as a baseline prior to the stimulation series. (at T1)
Primary	Changes in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at T2	Changes compared to the baseline (T2-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T2 (after the 6th stimulation, 2 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at T3	Changes compared to the baseline (T3-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T3 (6 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at T4	Changes compared to the baseline (T4-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T4 (6 months since T1)
Primary	Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at T1 (baseline)	A standardized questionaire focusing on symptoms of depression. The scale calculates SDS index from the raw data - minimal SDS index=25 points; maximal SDS index=100 points. Higher SDS index means generally more severe depression.	The measurement was established as a baseline prior to the stimulation series. (at T1)
Primary	Changes in Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at T2	Changes compared to the baseline (T2-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T2 (after the 6th stimulation, 2 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at T3	Changes compared to the baseline (T3-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T3 (6 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at T4	Changes compared to the baseline (T4-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T4 (6 months since T1)
Primary	The World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF at T1 (baseline)	An abbreviated version of WHO questionaire evaluating 4 domains of quality of life during the therapy. The outcomes are calculatefd are on a scale ranging between 0-100%. Higher scores mean generally higher perceived quality of life.	The measurement was established as a baseline prior to the stimulation series. (at T1)
Primary	Changes in The World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF at 2	Changes compared to the baseline (T2-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T2 (after the 6th stimulation, 2 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in The World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF at 3	Changes compared to the baseline (T3-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T3 (6 weeks since T1)
Primary	Changes in The World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF at 4	Changes compared to the baseline (T4-T1) were calculated and further statistically compared between the groups. A negative difference to the baseline means an improvement.	Measured at T4 (6 months since T1)