Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in a patient suffering from depression and rheumatoid arthritis: evidence for immunomodulatory effects.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been suggested as antidepressive treatment strategy. The mechanism of action by which the antidepressive effect is brought about remains unclear at present. Here, we report findings in a patient suffering from recurrent major depression and rheumatoid arthritis. Improvement of depressive symptoms during 20 Hz rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was repeatedly associated with a systemic inflammatory reaction, suggesting that rTMS induced an immunomodulatory effect.
Langguth
Berthold
B
Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Germany. Berthold.Langguth@medbo.de
Braun
Susanne
S
Aigner
Josef M
JM
Landgrebe
Michael
M
Weinerth
Jutta
J
Hajak
Göran
G
Eichhammer
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*