Modest adjunctive benefit with transcranial magnetic stimulation in medication-resistant depression

Background: Controverted results have been obtained using high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) as an antidepressant treatment. Method: Forty patients suffering from drug-resistant major depression received ten sessions of HF-rTMS at 90% of the motor threshold on the left prefro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of affective disorders 2001-05, Vol.64 (2), p.271-275
Main Authors: Garcia-Toro, Mauro, Mayol, Antoni, Arnillas, Henar, Capllonch, Inmaculada, Ibarra, Olga, Crespı́, Magdalena, Micó, Javier, Lafau, Oriol, Lafuente, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage
Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Combined Modality Therapy
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy
Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy
Double-Blind Method
Drug Resistance
Drug-resistant
Electromagnetic Phenomena - methods
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Functional Laterality - physiology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Skull
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Treatment Outcome
Treatments
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Summary:Background: Controverted results have been obtained using high frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) as an antidepressant treatment. Method: Forty patients suffering from drug-resistant major depression received ten sessions of HF-rTMS at 90% of the motor threshold on the left prefrontal cortex or sham stimulation, added to their pharmacological treatment, in a randomized double-blind design. In a second open phase, patients still fulfilling criteria of inclusion received ten additional sessions of HF-rTMS at 90 or 110%. Results: Real, but not sham HF-rTMS, was associated with a significant decrease in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, but only twelve patients decreased more than 50%. Conclusions: Left prefrontal HF-rTMS was effectively associated with antidepressant treatment, although the size effect was small. Limitations: Shortage of the sample and control difficulties of the placebo effect. Clinical relevance: Questionable in more than half of the patients studied.
ISSN:0165-0327
1573-2517
DOI:10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00223-8