Carmen Concerto1, Giuseppe Lanza1, Mariagiovanna Cantone2, Raffaele Ferri2, Giovanni Pennisi3, Rita Bella4, Eugenio Aguglia1. 1. a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania , Via Santa Sofia, Catania , Italy. 2. b Department of Neurology I.C. , "Oasi" Institute for Research on Mental Retardation and Brain Aging (I.R.C.C.S.) . Via Conte Ruggero, Troina (EN) , Italy. 3. c Department "Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche" , University of Catania , Via Santa Sofia, Catania , Italy. 4. d Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies , Section of Neurosciences , Via Santa Sofia, Catania , Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to assess the long-term efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on depressive symptoms and cognitive performance in patients with drug-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Fifteen drug-resistant depressed outpatients completed an acute trial with augmentative high-frequency rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and were compared with 15 drug-resistant MDD patients who underwent sham procedure. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The Frontal Assessment Battery and the Stroop Color-Word Test Interference (Stroop T) were used to probe executive functions. Outcome measures were obtained at baseline, 4 weeks after the rTMS, as well as 3 months and 6 months after the end of the stimulation protocol. RESULTS: After the active rTMS, patients showed a significant decrease in the scores at the depression rating scales that lasted for 6 months. A transient improvement was also observed at the Stroop T, although it did not persist in time. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC may have long-term antidepressant effect in drug-resistant MDD. TMS is a valuable tool for the add-on treatment of mood disorders and for the design of customized stimulation protocols.
OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to assess the long-term efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on depressive symptoms and cognitive performance in patients with drug-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Fifteen drug-resistant depressed outpatients completed an acute trial with augmentative high-frequency rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and were compared with 15 drug-resistant MDDpatients who underwent sham procedure. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The Frontal Assessment Battery and the Stroop Color-Word Test Interference (Stroop T) were used to probe executive functions. Outcome measures were obtained at baseline, 4 weeks after the rTMS, as well as 3 months and 6 months after the end of the stimulation protocol. RESULTS: After the active rTMS, patients showed a significant decrease in the scores at the depression rating scales that lasted for 6 months. A transient improvement was also observed at the Stroop T, although it did not persist in time. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC may have long-term antidepressant effect in drug-resistant MDD. TMS is a valuable tool for the add-on treatment of mood disorders and for the design of customized stimulation protocols.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cortical excitability; drug-resistant major depression; neural plasticity; repetitive TMS