Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression in adolescents: an open-label study.
OBJECTIVE
This open-label pilot study examined repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a possible treatment of adolescent resistant depression.


METHODS
Nine adolescents (aged 16-18 years) with severe resistant depression (determined by SCID) were recruited, and their depression, suicidality, and cognitive functions were evaluated before, during, and after a course of twenty 10-Hz, 2-second trains (intertrain intervals of 58 seconds) given over 20 min/d over 14 working days.


RESULTS
Lower levels of depression with progression in therapy were recorded by both the Beck Depression Inventory and Child Depression Rating Scale measures (F1.7,14.01 = 4.52, P < 0.05; F4,32 = 6.645, P < 0.01, respectively). Three patients reached the primary outcome measure of less than 30% reduction in their Child Depression Rating Scale. The effect on suicidality was not significant. Side effects were considered mild.


CONCLUSIONS
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation might be a possible therapy for adolescent depression. Our preliminary findings warrant double-blind, controlled studies.
Bloch
Yuval
Y
Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel. yuvalbl@clalit.org.il
Grisaru
Nimrod
N
Harel
Eiran V
EV
Beitler
Gabriela
G
Faivel
Nurit
N
Ratzoni
Gideon
G
Stein
Daniel
D
Levkovitz
Yechiel
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019233:Retreatment; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome