The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on depressive symptoms and the P 300 event-related potential
Authors: Möller, Anna L.1; Hjaltason, Ómar2; Ívarsson, Ómar2; Stefánsson, Sigurjón B.3
Source: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 60, Number 4, August 2006 , pp. 282-285(4)
Publisher: Informa Healthcare
Abstract:
Changes in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the P 300 auditory event-related potential were assessed in 10 patients with depression before and after a treatment course of five daily sessions of 10Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left prefrontal cortex. The patients were initially randomly allocated either to an active or a placebo rTMS treatment. All patients received both types of treatment separated by an interval of 4weeks. The median Hamilton score decreased by 7 points following active rTMS and by 1point after sham ( p =0.075). Active rTMS was associated with a significant increase in the P 300 amplitude compared with sham ( p =0.02). There was no correlation between changes in P 300 measurements and the Hamilton scores after active treatment. We conclude that five daily sessions of left prefrontal rTMS treatment is not of sufficient duration to make a significant improvement in depressive symptoms.Keywords: Depression; P300; Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/08039480600790119
Affiliations: 1: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Landspítali-University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland 2: Department of Psychiatry, Landspítali-University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland 3: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Anatomy, Landspítali-University HospitalUniversity of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

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