Double-blind controlled investigation of transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of resistant major depression.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy and safety of left prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treating resistant major depression were examined in a double-blind, controlled study.


METHODS
Eighteen medication-resistant depressed subjects were randomly assigned to 2 weeks of real or sham rTMS, then permitted up to 4 weeks of real rTMS. Effects on mood, neuropsychological function, EEG, and hearing were assessed.


RESULTS
The groups receiving real and sham rTMS improved in mood significantly over the 2-week double-blind period, but there was no significant difference between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation did not provide significantly greater improvement than did sham treatment. A 4-week course of rTMS, as administered in this study, was safe.
Loo
C
C
Mood Disorders Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, N.S.W., Australia. colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au
Mitchell
P
P
Sachdev
P
P
McDarmont
B
B
Parker
G
G
Gandevia
S
S
D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome