DIKUL - logo
E-resources
Peer reviewed Open access
  • Simultaneous rTMS and psych...
    Donse, Lana; Padberg, Frank; Sack, Alexander T.; Rush, A. John; Arns, Martijn

    Brain stimulation, March-April 2018, 2018 Mar - Apr, 2018-03-00, 20180301, Volume: 11, Issue: 2
    Journal Article

    Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is considered an efficacious non-invasive neuromodulation treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about the clinical outcome of combined rTMS and psychotherapy (rTMS + PT). Through common neurobiological brain mechanisms, rTMS + PT may exert enhanced antidepressant effects compared to the respective monotherapies. The current naturalistic study aimed to evaluate feasibility and clinical outcome of rTMS + PT in a large group of MDD patients. The second aim was to identify clinical predictors of response and remission. A total of 196 patients with MDD were treated with at least 10 sessions of simultaneous rTMS and PT. rTMS was applied over the DLPFC, either 10 Hz left or 1 Hz right. Psychotherapy was based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Symptoms were measured using the BDI each fifth session until end of treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Comparisons were made between responders and non-responders, as well as between the 10 Hz and 1 Hz protocol. Additionally, baseline variables and early BDI change were evaluated as predictors of response/remission. 1) Combining rTMS and PT resulted in a 66% response and a 56% remission rate at the end of treatment with 60% sustained remission at follow-up. Compared to previous findings in RCTs, these rates are relatively high; 2) No differences were found between the 10 Hz and 1 Hz TMS regarding clinical outcome; 3) Clinical baseline variables were not predictive of treatment outcomes; 4) Early symptom improvement (at session 10) was highly predictive of response, and may therefore be used to guide rTMS + PT continuation; 5) Based on the current findings in a large naturalistic study, future studies employing a more standardized method are warranted to draw solid conclusions on the unique effect of rTMS + PT. •Simultaneous application of rTMS and psychotherapy may exert enhanced effects.•rTMS + PT resulted in relatively high response (66%) and remission (56%) rates.•No differences were found between patients treated with high vs. low frequency rTMS.•Symptom change after 10 sessions could predict positive treatment response.