Deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation associated with improved social functioning in a young woman with an autism spectrum disorder.
OBJECTIVE
There are currently no biomedical treatments targeting the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Considering evidence for cortical dysfunction in ASD, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been discussed as a potential therapeutic technique.


METHODS
We describe the application of a new type of rTMS, deep rTMS, to the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex in a young woman with a high-functioning ASD. High-frequency rTMS was applied for 15 minutes each consecutive weekday for an 11-day period (9 treatments in total). Self-reported assessments were conducted before the first rTMS session, immediately after the last rTMS session, and 1-month after the last rTMS session.


RESULTS
Self-reported assessments revealed a number of improvements after deep rTMS. These were primarily in the domain of social relating and interpersonal understanding and were corroborated by family members.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep rTMS in ASD may serve to remediate aspects of cortical dysfunction (as standard rTMS seems to do in depression and schizophrenia) and provides a potential new avenue for the development of a biomedical treatment of impaired social relating in ASD.
Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University and The Alfred, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. peter.enticott@monash.edu
Peter G
PG
Enticott
Hayley A
HA
Kennedy
Abraham
A
Zangen
Paul B
PB
Fitzgerald
D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult