title: Transcranial magnetic stimulation: a novel antidepressive strategy?
abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a well-established diagnostic probe in neurological practice. The increasing knowledge of biological mechanisms in electroconvulsive therapy presents a clear case for studying the applicability of TMS as a therapeutic tool in psychiatry. Based on the results of our pilot study showing a possible antidepressive effect of TMS, we conducted a controlled clinical trial on patients affected by major depression (DSM-III-R). Group 1 (n = 12) underwent TMS as add-on therapy to standard antidepressive medication, while group 2 (n = 12) was treated only with antidepressive medication. Already after the third add-on TMS session, a statistically significantly greater remission of depressive symptoms occurred in the patients of group 1 (p = 0.003). This statistically significant difference between the groups became even more marked on the last day of the study (p = 0.001, Wilcoxon). The results and further implications of TMS in psychiatric disorders are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, LKH Rankweil, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swoboda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krecke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents