What is the evidence that 1Hz rTMS positively affects chronic tinnitus?

Objective: To investigate relevant long-term studies which assess the use of 1Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in participants with chronic tinnitus and so determine its benefits as a possible treatment option. Study design: A systematic review was developed to conclude the research question. The inclusion involved double-blind randomized sham-controlled clinical trials conducted over six months using 1Hz rTMS. The search strategy included the use of databases such as Pubmed, Cochrane Library, OVID Medline, CINAHL, Google Scholar, University of Bristol MetaLib and the University of Bristol library catalogue. Results: Three suitable studies were obtained and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that rTMS appears to have a beneficial psychological and physiological long-term effect spanning six months, although a correlation between a particular participant trait and overall success has not been found due to high inter-subject variability. Conclusion: Despite the possible benefits of rTMS with chronic tinnitus, further research is still required to fully determine the long-term benefits of rTMS after six months and potentially standardize rTMS into an evidence-based tinnitus management tool.