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A randomized double-blind trial of right prefrontal cortex low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in major depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

P Fitzgerald,
ZJ Daskalakis,
S Huntsman,
R Gunewardene and
J Kulkarni
P Fitzgerald
Affiliation:
Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre and Monash University Department of Psychological Medicine
ZJ Daskalakis
Affiliation:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
S Huntsman
Affiliation:
Palm Beach Currumbin Clinic, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
R Gunewardene
Affiliation:
Mosman Private Hospital, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
J Kulkarni
Affiliation:
Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre and Monash University Department of Psychological Medicine
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Abstract

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Information

Type
Abstracts from ‘Brainwaves’— The Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Meeting 2006, 6–8 December, Sydney, Australia
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , December 2006, pp. 286
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Blackwell Munksgaard

Background:

Low-frequency right prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) appears to have antidepressant properties although the effectiveness of this treatment in clinical practice has not been assessed and the optimal stimulation parameters defined. The boundaries of ‘low-frequency’ stimulation are not clear.

Methods:

A total of 122 patients with treatment-resistant depression were randomized to either 1- or 2-Hz stimulation over right prefrontal cortex (PFC) (one single 15-min train) for 2 weeks. A second 2-week period of treatment was provided for patients showing initial response (>20% reduction in HAMD score).

Results:

One hundred eighteen patients received a full 2 weeks of treatment (63 − 1 Hz, 55 − 2 Hz). There was a mean reduction in HAMD scores of 30.1 ± 29.8% in the 1-Hz group and 33.2 ± 31.7% in the 2-Hz group (P > 0.05). Seventy-eight patients received a further 2 weeks of treatment. Over the full 4 weeks, there was a reduction in HAMD scores of 62.2 ± 25.1 (1-Hz group) and 61.3 ± 25.2% (2-Hz group) (P > 0.05). Thirty of 63 (48%) patients in he 1-Hz group and 29 of 55 (53%) patients in 2-Hz group met response criteria (>50% reduction HAMD score) at study end. There was no difference in clinical response between groups.

Conclusions:

Despite a heterogeneous sample, a significant proportion (˜50%) of patients met clinical response criteria following treatment. There was no difference in clinical response to 1- or 2-Hz rTMS applied to right dorsolateral PFC. This suggests that 2-Hz right PFC rTMS has antidepressant properties but offers no advantage over 1-Hz stimulation despite a twofold increase in pulse number.