title: Combining high and low frequencies in rTMS antidepressive treatment: preliminary results.
abstract: The antidepressive potency of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) seems to depend on variables such as the stimulation placements, different frequencies, stimulus intensities, coil shape and interstimulus intervals. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the augmentation properties of rTMS combining low and high frequencies. Thirty six depressed medicated in-patients were recruited and assigned to three different rTMS treatment modalities as an add-on strategy (each n = 12). In group 1 a stimulus intensity of 110% of the motor threshold (MT) was used with a frequency of 10 Hz over the left dorsolatero prefrontal cortex (DLPC). The right DLPC was stimulated in the same session with 110% MT at 1 Hz. In group 2 the patients were stimulated only over the left DLPC with alternating trains of 110% MT at 10 Hz and trains of 110% MT at 1 Hz in the same session. In group 3 the high frequency stimulation over the left DLPC was performed as an internal control group. None of the treatment modalities was superior but different side effects were observed. These preliminary findings suggest that rTMS, at varying frequencies and stimulation placements, evokes different psychoactive effects of clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry I and II, Regional Hospital, 6830 Rankweil, Austria. andreas.conca@lkhr.at
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conca
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Di Pauli
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beraus
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peschina
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Hartmann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hinterhuber
mesh_terms: D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome