Can left prefrontal rTMS be used as a maintenance treatment for bipolar depression?

Numerous studies have examined the acute antidepressant effects of prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, there is little information on whether TMS can be used as a maintenance treatment to maintain normal mood once subjects have responded. We describe seven adults with bipolar depression who responded acutely to TMS and were then treated with TMS weekly for up to 1 year. TMS was carried out over the left prefrontal cortex at 110% motor threshold, 5 Hz for 8 s for 40 trains. Three subjects completed 1 full year of weekly TMS with an average Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression of 13 (sd = 5.9) over the year. These data suggest but do not prove that TMS might eventually be used as an adjunctive maintenance treatment for at least some patients with bipolar depression. Much work remains. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.