Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2017 Aug;24(3):95-109. 10.0000/kjbp.2017.24.3.95.

Clinical Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment of Depression and Latest Trends in TMS Techniques

• Kim ST
• Kim HW
• Kim SJ
• Kang JI

• KMID: 2396544
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2017.24.3.95

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique which can change cortical excitability in targeted area by producing magnetic field pulses with an electromagnetic coil. rTMS treatment has been used to treat various neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. In this review, we evaluate the literature on rTMS for depression by assessing its efficacy on different subtypes of depression and different technical parameters. In particular, we focus on the results of randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses for depression after the US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2008, which acknowledged its efficacy and acceptability. We also review the new forms of rTMS therapy including deep TMS, theta-burst stimulation, and magnetic seizure therapy (MST) that have been under recent investigation. High frequency rTMS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), low frequency rTMS over right DLPFC, or bilateral rTMS is shown to be effective and acceptable in treatment for patients with non-psychotic, unipolar depression either as monotherapy or adjuvant. Deep TMS, theta-burst stimulation and MST are promising new TMS techniques which warrant further research.

Keyword

Efficacy; Safety; Depression; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Brain stimulation techniques

MeSH Terms

Depression*
Depressive Disorder
Humans
Magnetic Fields
Magnets
Prefrontal Cortex
Seizures
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*
Treatment Outcome*
United States Food and Drug Administration