Battlefield Acupuncture as a Treatment Option for Chronic Tinnitus: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: There is no cure for tinnitus, which is a highly prevalent condition in service members and veterans. Battlefield acupuncture (BFA) can be used to manage pain and stress-related symptoms. We investigated BFA as a safe, low-cost treatment for tinnitus perception and coping in eight chronic tinnitus patients who were followed for 6 months after two BFA treatments to identify changes in tinnitus severity or impact.

Materials and methods: Patients completed case history, Tinnitus Screener, Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires at baseline, at two BFA treatment sessions (2 weeks apart), and at four follow-up sessions (at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months after treatment). Questionnaire score changes were evaluated over time by using restricted maximum likelihood hierarchical regression modeling from baseline to 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month post-treatment follow-ups.

Results: TFI and TRQ group means were both significantly reduced at 1 month after treatment, and these reductions persisted through the 2- and 4-month follow-ups. The TRQ group mean remained significantly reduced after 6 months.

Conclusions: Findings from eight chronic tinnitus sufferers who received two BFA treatment sessions are reported here, suggesting at least short-term treatment benefits observed as reductions in tinnitus-related psychological distress and impact. Although these findings are constrained by the study's small sample size and limited treatment period, its findings underscore the need for further research to determine the potential benefits of BFA for individuals who suffer from chronic tinnitus. Future research should consider the possibility of more lasting benefits through extended BFA treatment, with a comparison of BFA treatment against other treatment methods.