Long-term efficacy after acute augmentative repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in bipolar depression: a 1-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
: The efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been poorly investigated in the long-term. The present follow-up study was aimed to assess the long-term efficacy and the discontinuation effects of rTMS in a sample of depressed bipolar patients.


METHODS
: After the completion of an acute trial with augmentative, low-frequency, navigated rTMS, 11 drug-resistant depressed bipolar subjects (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition [Text Revision] criteria) entered a naturalistic follow-up with monthly evaluations through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale.


RESULTS
: After 1 year of follow-up, results showed that the achievement of remission after acute rTMS was predictive of maintenance of response at 1 year. On the other hand, the absence of acute rTMS response predicted the absence of subsequent response in the long-term.


CONCLUSIONS
: This first report on the long-term discontinuation effects after acute rTMS suggests that immediate remission is predictive of sustained benefit after 1 year. Larger controlled studies are needed to confirm present preliminary findings.
Dell'osso
Bernardo
B
Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. bernardo.dellosso@unimi.it
D'Urso
Nazario
N
Castellano
Filippo
F
Ciabatti
Mariateresa
M
Altamura
Alfredo Carlo
AC
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013995:Time; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome