Efficacy and Safety of rTMS in Treatment of Refractory Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-An Open Trial

Lee, Se Joung; Jung, Young Eun; Seo, Ho Jun; Chae, Jeong Ho

Abstract

Objectives
: Recently, several attempts have been made to use repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with various stimulation frequencies as a novel treatment for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, findings about the efficacy of rTMS in treating OCD have been inconsistent. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical effect and safety of low frequency rTMS on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the treatment of refractory OCD.
METHODS
: Twenty-four patients with treatment-refractory OCD received a daily treatment of 20 minutes low frequency rTMS (1 Hz) to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with power of 100% of motor threshold, for 15 days. Clinical status was evaluated using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at baseline, at the end of the rTMS treatment (3 weeks), and 4 weeks after finishing the rTMS treatment course.
RESULTS
: After 3 weeks treatment with low frequency rTMS, Y-BOCS, HAMA and CGI-S scores were significantly decreased.
CONCLUSION
: The present study found that low-frequency rTMS on the right prefrontal cortex for 3 weeks showed significant therapeutic effects in patients with OCD. Further controlled trials are indicated to assess the efficacy of rTMS in the treatment of OCD.