Augmenting antidepressants with deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) in treatment-resistant major depression

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

The efficacy and safety of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are unknown. Up to June 21, 2023, we conducted a systematic search for RCTs, and then extracted and synthesized data using random effects models. Five RCTs involving 507 patients with TRD (243 in the active dTMS group and 264 in the control group) were included in the present study. The active dTMS group showed significantly higher study-defined response rate (45.3% versus 24.2%, n = 507, risk ratio [RR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-2.91, I2 = 53%; P = 0.005) and study-defined remission rate (38.3% versus 14.4%, n = 507, RR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.30-4.32, I2 = 58%; P = 0.005) and superiority in improving depressive symptoms (n = 507, standardized mean difference = -0.65, 95%CI: -1.11--0.18, I2 = 82%; P = 0.006) than the control group. In terms of cognitive functions, no significant differences were observed between the two groups. The two groups also showed similar rates of other adverse events and all-cause discontinuations (P > 0.05). dTMS is an effective and safe treatment strategy for the management of patients with TRD.

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for adolescents with treatment-resistant depression: A preliminary dose-finding study exploring safety and clinical effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) that modulates neural activity. Deep TMS (dTMS) can target not only cortical but also deeper limbic structures implicated in depression. Although TMS has demonstrated safety in adolescents, dTMS has yet to be applied to adolescent TRD.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

This pilot study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of dTMS in adolescents with TRD. We hypothesized dTMS would be safe, tolerable, and efficacious for adolescent TRD.

METHODS

15 adolescents with TRD (Age, years: M = 16.4, SD = 1.42) completed a six-week daily dTMS protocol targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BrainsWay H1 coil, 30 sessions, 10 Hz, 3.6 s train duration, 20s inter-train interval, 55 trains; 1980 total pulses per session, 80 % to 120 % of motor threshold). Participants completed clinical, safety, and neurocognitive assessments before and after treatment. The primary outcome was depression symptom severity measured by the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R).

RESULTS

14 out of 15 participants completed the dTMS treatments. One participant experienced a convulsive syncope; the other participants only experienced mild side effects (e.g., headaches). There were no serious adverse events and minimal to no change in cognitive performance. Depression symptom severity significantly improved pre- to post-treatment and decreased to a clinically significant degree after 10 treatment sessions. Six participants met criteria for treatment response.

LIMITATIONS

Main limitations include a small sample size and open-label design.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide preliminary evidence that dTMS may be tolerable and associated with clinical improvement in adolescent TRD.

A Review of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Medication and Psychotherapy for Depression

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After participating in this CME activity, the psychiatrist should be better able to:• Compare and contrast therapies used in combination with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating MDD.

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive neuromodulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has emerged as a major area for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). This review has two primary aims: (1) to review the current literature on combining TMS and tDCS with other therapies, such as psychotherapy and psychopharmacological interventions, and (2) to discuss the efficacy, feasibility, limitations, and future directions of these combined treatments for MDD.

METHOD

This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched three databases: PubMed, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Library. The last search date was December 5, 2023.

RESULTS

The initial search revealed 2,519 records. After screening and full-text review, 58 studies (7 TMS plus psychotherapy, 32 TMS plus medication, 7 tDCS plus psychotherapy, 12 tDCS plus medication) were included.

CONCLUSIONS

The current literature on tDCS and TMS paired with psychotherapy provides initial support for integrating mindfulness interventions with both TMS and tDCS. Adding TMS or tDCS to stable doses of ongoing medications can decrease MDD symptoms; however, benzodiazepines may interfere with TMS and tDCS response, and antipsychotics can interfere with TMS response. Pairing citalopram with TMS and sertraline with tDCS can lead to greater MDD symptom reduction compared to using these medications alone. Future studies need to enroll larger samples, include randomized controlled study designs, create more uniform protocols for combined treatment delivery, and explore mechanisms and predictors of change.

Grey matter abnormalities in major depressive disorder patients with suicide attempts: A systematic review of age-specific differences

Background

Previous studies have reported alterations in brain structure in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with suicide attempts. However, age-related changes in suicidal MDD patients remain unclear.

Methods

We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant studies from inception to January 2023. All voxel-based and surface-based morphometry studies comparing suicidal MDD patients to MDD or healthy controls were included. Studies were then grouped by age range (old, middle-age, adolescent) and the commonalities and age-related structural brain alterations were summarized. The included studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results

A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 3 of late-life depression (LLD) patients, 11 of middle-aged depression (MAD) patients, and 3 of adolescent depression (AOD) patients. The majority of studies had moderate to high NOS scores, indicating good quality. Patients in all three age groups exhibited extensive alterations in the lateral, medial, and orbital regions of the frontal lobes. Furthermore, suicidal MAD patients showed a specific decrease in the gray matter volume of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to suicidal LLD patients. Cortical thickness and left angular gyrus volume were decreased in suicidal MAD and suicidal LLD patients, but increased in suicidal AOD patients.

Conclusion

This systematic review summarizes structural brain changes in suicidal MDD patients at three age groups: elderly, middle-aged, and adolescent. These findings help elucidate the common circuitry of MDD related to suicide over the lifespan and highlight unique circuitry associated with different ages. These findings may help predict the risk of suicide in MDD patients at different ages.

Treatment Response of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Intellectually Capable Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To examine current clinical research on the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of pediatric and young adult autism spectrum disorder in intellectually capable persons (IC-ASD). We searched peer-reviewed international literature to identify clinical trials investigating TMS as a treatment for behavioral and cognitive symptoms of IC-ASD. We identified sixteen studies and were able to conduct a meta-analysis on twelve of these studies. Seven were open-label or used neurotypical controls for baseline cognitive data, and nine were controlled trials. In the latter, waitlist control groups were often used over sham TMS. Only one study conducted a randomized, parallel, double-blind, and sham controlled trial. Favorable safety data was reported in low frequency repetitive TMS, high frequency repetitive TMS, and intermittent theta burst studies. Compared to TMS research of other neuropsychiatric conditions, significantly lower total TMS pulses were delivered in treatment and neuronavigation was not regularly utilized. Quantitatively, our multivariate meta-analysis results report improvement in cognitive outcomes (pooled Hedges' g = 0.735, 95% CI = 0.242, 1.228; p = 0.009) and primarily Criterion B symptomology of IC-ASD (pooled Hedges' g = 0.435, 95% CI = 0.359, 0.511; p < 0.001) with low frequency repetitive TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis data indicate that TMS may offer a promising and safe treatment option for pediatric and young adult patients with IC-ASD. However, future work should include use of neuronavigation software, theta burst protocols, targeting of various brain regions, and robust study design before clinical recommendations can be made.

Deep TMS H1 Coil treatment for depression: Results from a large post marketing data analysis

Phase IV study evaluated Deep TMS for major depression in community settings. Data were aggregated from 1753 patients at 21 sites, who received Deep TMS (high frequency or iTBS) using the H1 coil. Outcome measures varied across subjects and included clinician-based scales (HDRS-21) and self-assessment questionnaires (PHQ-9, BDI-II). 1351 patients were included in the analysis, 202 received iTBS. For participants with data from at least 1 scale, 30 sessions of Deep TMS led to 81.6% response and 65.3% remission rate. 20 sessions led to 73.6% response and 58.1% remission rate. iTBS led to 72.4% response and 69.2% remission. Remission rates were highest when assessed with HDRS (72%). In 84% of responders and 80% of remitters, response and remission was sustained in the subsequent assessment. Median number of sessions (days) for onset of sustained response was 16 (21 days) and for sustained remission 17 (23 days). Higher stimulation intensity was associated with superior clinical outcomes. This study shows that beyond its proven efficacy in RCTs, Deep TMS with the H1 coil is effective for treating depression under naturalistic conditions, and the onset of improvement is usually within 20 sessions. However, initial non-responders and non-remitters benefit from extended treatment.

Brain activation alterations with adjunctive deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder: an fMRI study

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders with lifetime prevalence higher than that of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Inadequate response to available pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions is common in OCD. Adjunctive brain stimulation methods to address the inadequate treatment response in OCD have found a special interest in research. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of adjunctive deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) in ameliorating the symptoms of OCD and the effect of dTMS on activation of brain regions while performing the Stroop task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

METHODS

A total of 41 patients were assessed for the study out of which 15 OCD patients received 10 sessions of high-frequency dTMS using the H7 coil to target the anterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex over a period of 2 weeks. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used for the pre- and post-stimulation clinical assessment. fMRI was used to measure the activation of brain regions while performing the Stroop task.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in the obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after the 2 weeks of the dTMS treatment. A significant decrease in the activation of left caudate nucleus and adjacent white matter was noted while performing the Stroop task after the dTMS treatment.

CONCLUSION

The study provides preliminary evidence for functional correlates of effectiveness of dTMS as an adjunctive treatment modality for OCD.

Effectiveness of noninvasive brain stimulation in the treatment of anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of sham or behaviour-controlled studies

BACKGROUND

The possibility of using noninvasive brain stimulation to treat mental disorders has received considerable attention recently. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are considered to be effective treatments for depressive symptoms. However, no treatment recommendation is currently available for anxiety disorders, suggesting that evidence is still limited. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and a quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of rTMS and tDCS in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we screened 3 electronic databases up to the end of February 2020 for English-language, peer-reviewed articles that included the following: a clinical sample of patients with an anxiety disorder, the use of a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, the inclusion of a control condition, and pre/post scores on a validated questionnaire that measured symptoms of anxiety.

RESULTS

Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria, comprising 154 participants assigned to a stimulation condition and 164 to a sham or control group. We calculated Hedge's g for scores on disorder-specific and general anxiety questionnaires before and after treatment to determine effect size, and we conducted 2 independent random-effects meta-analyses. Considering the well-known comorbidity between anxiety and depression, we ran a third meta-analysis analyzing outcomes for depression scores. Results showed a significant effect of noninvasive brain stimulation in reducing scores on disorder-specific and general anxiety questionnaires, as well as depressive symptoms, in the real stimulation compared to the control condition.

LIMITATIONS

Few studies met the inclusion criteria; more evidence is needed to strengthen conclusions about the effectiveness of noninvasive brain stimulation in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed that noninvasive brain stimulation reduced anxiety and depression scores compared to control conditions, suggesting that it can alleviate clinical symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and its role in suicidality - A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a brain stimulation modality is approved for the treatment of resistant depression and its efficacy in depression is also well supported in several studies. However, its effect on suicidality is still unclear, unlike electroconvulsive therapy.

METHODOLOGY

This paper provides a systematic review of the literature published till June 2021. Studies that used rTMS as either monotherapy or adjunctive treatment in patients with suicidality, irrespective of their diagnosis, were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was followed. A total of 20 studies (N = 1584) were included for the qualitative synthesis. The quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for Randomised control trials (RCT) and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tool for Non-Randomised studies (NRS).

RESULTS

Of the 20 articles selected for qualitative synthesis, 11 were RCTs and 9 were NRS. The results are categorized in domains of type of the study, size of population, type of population, diagnosis, assessment scales, mode of rTMS, stimulus parameters, safety and efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

The high frequency rTMS at left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as an adjunct to antidepressant medication is promising in reducing suicidal behaviour in treatment resistant depression. However, role of TMS targeting other areas of stimulation in mitigating suicide risk in other disorders could not be established due to scarcity of such studies. The results should be interpreted cautiously as considerable risk of bias was present in the reviewed studies.

A Systematic Review of Neuromodulation Treatment Effects on Suicidality

Introduction: Neuromodulation is an important group of therapeutic modalities for neuropsychiatric disorders. Prior studies have focused on efficacy and adverse events associated with neuromodulation. Less is known regarding the influence of neuromodulation treatments on suicidality. This systematic review sought to examine the effects of various neuromodulation techniques on suicidality. Methods: A systematic review of the literature from 1940 to 2020 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was conducted. Any reported suicide-related outcome, including suicidal ideation, suicide intent, suicide attempt, completed suicide in reports were considered as a putative measure of treatment effect on suicidality. Results: The review identified 129 relevant studies. An exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of sertraline and transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) for treating depression reported a decrease in suicidal ideation favoring tDCS vs. placebo and tDCS combined with sertraline vs. placebo. Several studies reported an association between repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and improvements in suicidal ideation. In 12 of the studies, suicidality was the primary outcome, ten of which showed a significant improvement in suicidal ideation. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and magnetic seizure therapy was also shown to be associated with lower suicidal ideation and completed suicide rates. There were 11 studies which suicidality was the primary outcome and seven of these showed an improvement in suicidal ideation or suicide intent and fewer suicide attempts or completed suicides in patients treated with ECT. There was limited literature focused on the potential protective effect of vagal nerve stimulation with respect to suicidal ideation. Data were mixed regarding the potential effects of deep brain stimulation on suicidality. Conclusions: Future prospective studies of neuromodulation that focus on the primary outcome of suicidality are urgently needed. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=125599, identifier: CRD42019125599.

Can seizure therapies and noninvasive brain stimulations prevent suicidality? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a major public health issue and the majority of those who attempt suicide suffer from mental disorders. Beyond psychopharmacotherapy, seizure therapies and noninvasive brain stimulation interventions have been used to treat such patients. However, the effect of these nonpharmacological treatments on the suicidal ideation and incidence of suicidality remains unclear. Here, we aimed to provide an update on the effects of seizure therapies and noninvasive brain stimulation on suicidality.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library databases using the MeSH terms "Electroconvulsive Therapy", "Magnetic Seizure Stimulation", "repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation", "transcranial Direct Current Stimulation", "Cranial Electrostimulation" and "suicide". We included studies using seizure therapies and noninvasive brain stimulation as a main intervention that evaluated suicidality, regardless of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Among 1,019 records screened, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria using either electroconvulsive therapy (n = 14), magnetic seizure therapy (n = 2), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (n = 9), or transcranial direct current stimulation (n = 1). We observed that studies reported significant results, suggesting these techniques can be effective on the suicidal dimension of mental health pathologies, but a general statement regarding their efficacy is premature due to limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Future enquiry is necessary to address methodological limitations and evaluate the long-term efficacy of these methods both alone and in combination with pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy.

Effects of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) on cognition

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is a modern non-invasive brain stimulation method demonstrated as effective in the treatment of major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This review aims to survey present knowledge concerning the cognitive function changes identified in dTMS research. A systematic literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar was performed and 23 out of 64 studies on dTMS and cognitive functioning were included in the review. Ten studies were conducted with patients with affective disorders, six with healthy participants, two with schizophrenia patients, two with OCD patients, and one study each with patients suffering from central neuropathic pain, autistic disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The best outcomes were obtained after 20 sessions of high-frequency dTMS with OCD patients, where, in addition to clinical improvement, patients showed amelioration of cognitive functions, specifically in cognitive control domains. The studies on patients with depression appear to show inconsistent results, from cognitive improvement in open-label studies to no improvement versus sham dTMS in controlled trials. Experimental research in healthy volunteers suggests an influence of dTMS on memory and self-agency, and also contain contradictory results. Most studies did not demonstrate a significant improvement in cognitive functioning. However, randomized sham-controlled trials with larger groups of medication-free patients and inclusion of functional imaging or electrophysiological recording connected with dTMS application are necessary for more detailed and confident conclusions concerning the effect of dTMS on cognitive functions.

Effects of unilateral tDCS over left prefrontal cortex on emotion regulation in depression: Evidence from concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common mood disorder and a primary cause of disability worldwide. MDD symptomatology entails disturbances in emotion regulation, namely one's ability to modify the intensity and duration of emotional reactions towards affective events. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising treatment for MDD. Yet, positive tDCS outcomes vary across studies, while the precise effects of the procedure for cortical excitability in MDD during emotion regulation remain largely unexplored. Here, we leveraged functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-compatible tDCS technology to examine the functional consequences of a unilateral anodal tDCS montage at 1.5 mA over left PFC (area F3; with the reference electrode over an extracephalic location) for brain activity during an emotion-regulation task in MDD patients and age-matched healthy control subjects. Our results revealed down-regulation of negative emotions in the right amygdala and visual cortex of healthy controls but not MDD patients prior to stimulation, the degree of which correlated with the magnitude of the participants' reappraisal scores. TDCS did not elicit significant changes in neural activation patterns for either group. These findings contribute to the literature on the pathophysiology of MDD by showing that a key disturbance in the disorder entails the ineffective down-regulation of activity not only within the amygdala, but also within visual cortical areas in response to negative information. Further, these results suggest that relative to bifrontal tDCS montages, unilateral stimulation of moderate intensity over left PFC may not be sufficient to elicit therapeutic effects for MDD.

Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Reducing Suicidal Ideation in Depression: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in reducing suicidal ideation in depression.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, CBMdisc, WanFang, Chongqing VIP, and CNKI databases were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) intervention in the management of suicidal ideation from inception to February 24, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using STATA 15.1 software.

RESULTS

A total of eight articles involving 566 patients were included. The meta-analysis results showed that the suicidal ideation scores of the group who received TMS treatment were significantly lower [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.415, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.741 to -0.090, P = 0.012] than those of the control group. Subgroup analysis showed that age, TMS pattern, frequency of intervention, and stimulation threshold altered the TMS efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence showed that TMS achieved superior results in reducing suicidal ideation. Because of the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the conclusions.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://inplasy.com/, identifier: INPLASY202180065.

A randomized controlled trial of a standard 4-week protocol of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in severe treatment resistant depression

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for major depressive disorder (MDD) in individuals who are depressed for at least 2 years and failed two or more different types of therapeutic intervention, remain scarce. Being less invasive than electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) might be an alternative treatment option.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does high frequency rTMS applied over the left prefrontal cortex ameliorate depressive symptoms in patients with treatment resistant major depressive disorder and is the efficacy dependent on treatment resistance?

METHOD

We performed a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of twenty sessions of real or sham-rTMS, during 4 consecutive weeks. Efficacy was blindly rated with the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS-17) at baseline and 1 week after end of treatment, and the Dutch method for quantification of treatment resistance in Depression (DM-TRD) was assessed at baseline.

RESULTS

An interim analysis showed no differences in antidepressant response between real and sham rTMS and we therefore discontinued the RCT after 31 patients. The mean difference of the HDRS score between baseline and post-treatment was 3.7 (± 4.0; change 16%), indicating a small but significant improvement across time (F(1,30)=25.4;p < 0.01). There were no differences however between the treatment arms (F(1.30) = 1.5;p = 0.23). We did find a negative correlation between the change in HDRS score and DM-TRD in the active rTMS group, but this correlation was not significantly different from the sham group.

CONCLUSION

"Standard" 4-week rTMS treatment is not effective in chronic, severe treatment-resistant depressed patients. While a replication of our data in this patient group may be ethically difficult, further research with less treatment resistant patients might help in positioning rTMS within the current stepped care approach to depression.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation to reduce suicidality - A review and naturalistic outcomes

Although there is growing interest in the use of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for suicidality, efficacy data in this area, and knowledge of potential treatment mechanisms, remains limited. The first objective of this study was to systematically review clinical trial data examining the effectiveness of TMS as a treatment for suicidal ideation. Our secondary objective was to investigate the extent to which changes in suicidality are independent of improvements in depression in a clinical sample of veterans who received TMS treatment. In Study 1, we searched the Pubmed and biRxiv databases from inception until July 2019 to identify studies that examined the efficacy of TMS for suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors. Data regarding sample characteristics, treatment parameters, and results were synthesized from six randomized controlled trials and five unblinded trials (total n = 593). Our systematic review indicated that while TMS was consistently associated with reduced depression, its impact on suicidality is unclear. Interpretation of results related to suicidality were complicated by study design elements and modest sample sizes. In Study 2, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 43 patients who received care for depression in a neuromodulation clinic at a Veteran's Affairs hospital. Results found significant decreases in suicidal ideation, and depressive symptom change did not always account for improvements in ideation. Taken together, our literature review and clinic study indicate preliminary promise of TMS for suicide, and underscore the need for more fine-grained, suicide-specific TMS research.

Distinct Symptom-Specific Treatment Targets for Circuit-Based Neuromodulation

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of different depression symptoms may require different brain stimulation targets with different underlying brain circuits. The authors sought to identify such targets, which could improve the efficacy of therapeutic brain stimulation and facilitate personalized therapy.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively analyzed two independent cohorts of patients who received left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment of depression (discovery sample, N=30; active replication sample, N=81; sham replication sample, N=87). Each patient's TMS site was mapped to underlying brain circuits using functional connectivity MRI from a large connectome database (N=1,000). Circuits associated with improvement in each depression symptom were identified and then clustered based on similarity. The authors tested for reproducibility across data sets and whether symptom-specific targets derived from one data set could predict symptom improvement in the other independent cohort.

RESULTS

The authors identified two distinct circuit targets effective for two discrete clusters of depressive symptoms. Dysphoric symptoms, such as sadness and anhedonia, responded best to stimulation of one circuit, while anxiety and somatic symptoms responded best to stimulation of a different circuit. These circuit maps were reproducible, predicted symptom improvement in independent patient cohorts, and were specific to active compared with sham stimulation. The maps predicted symptom improvement in an exploratory analysis of stimulation sites from 14 clinical TMS trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct clusters of depressive symptoms responded better to different TMS targets across independent retrospective data sets. These symptom-specific targets can be prospectively tested in a randomized clinical trial. This data-driven approach for identifying symptom-specific targets may prove useful for other disorders and facilitate personalized neuromodulation therapy.

Efficacy and tolerability of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

METHODS

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from the time of their inception until July 17, 2019. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Primary outcomes were mean change of depression and anxiety severity. Secondary outcomes were response and remission rate of depression.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies including three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 417, mean age: 50.6 years) and twelve uncontrolled clinical trials (n = 284, mean age: 46.4 years) were included. dTMS significantly improved the depressive (Hedges' g = -1.323, 95% CI = -1.651 to -0.995, p < .001) and anxiety symptoms (Hedges' g = -1.282, 95% CI = -1.514 to -1.051, p < .001) in patients with TRD. Subgroup analysis showed that non-RCTs had a larger effect size than RCTs (-1.461 vs -0.756) on depression severity. Although the response and remission rates of the dTMS group were high, only studies using both dTMS and antidepressant medications achieved significance. The anxiolytic effect of dTMS was more heterogeneous, and the results were obtained mainly from non-RCTs. Importantly, the dTMS group showed favorable tolerability without major adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

dTMS is a safe and effective intervention in patients with TRD. Studies combining dTMS and antidepressant medications seemed to show greater therapeutic effects. Future studies are needed to address the interaction effect of dTMS with different classes of antidepressant medications.

Dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex structural changes relative to suicidal ideation in patients with depression

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is enormously important in suicide and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about the structural alterations in the brains of people with MDD and suicidal ideation. We examined the gray matter volume (GMV) of the PFC of individuals with MDD and suicidal ideation to determine if PFC volumetric differences contribute to suicidal ideation in patients with MDD. Thirty-five subjects with MDD and suicidal ideation, 38 subjects with MDD but without suicidal ideation, and 43 age- and gender-matched healthy control (HC) subjects underwent T1-weighted imaging. A voxel-based morphometric analysis was conducted to compare the PFC GMVs of the three groups. Further GMV reductions in the left and right dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) and right ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC) were detected in the MDD with suicidal ideation group compared with those in the HC group and the MDD without suicidal ideation group, whereas the MDD without suicidal ideation group only exhibited significant differences in the left DLPFC relative to the HC group. Our findings demonstrated that left DLPFC reductions were associated with MDD and suicidal ideation, and diminished GMV reductions in the right DLPFC and right VLPFC were only associated with suicidal ideation. These results help us better understand the neuropathological changes in MDD with suicidal ideation.

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation using a figure-8-coil or an H1-Coil in treatment of major depressive disorder; A randomized clinical trial

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an evidence-based treatment option for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, comparisons of efficacy between the two FDA-approved protocols of rTMS modalities are lacking. The aim of this industry-independent, randomized-controlled, single-blind trial was to evaluate clinical outcome of the two FDA-approved rTMS protocols delivered by H1-coil and the figure-8-coil, in MDD patients. A total of 228 MDD patients were randomized to 20 sessions of H1-coil or 8-coil as an adjunct to standard-of-care pharmacotherapy, or standard-of-care pharmacotherapy alone. Baseline MDD symptom severity was almost the same in the three groups. Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D17) mean score was 17 (5.3) in H1-coil, 17 (5.4) in 8-coil, and 19 (6.1) in control group. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving remission defined as HAM-D17 score ≤7 at end-of-treatment at week-4. In the intention-to-treat analysis odds ratio for remission was 1.74 (CI95% 0.79-3.83) in H1-coil compared to the 8-coil group. The difference between two rTMS protocols was not significant. Remission rate was significantly greater in both HF-rTMS groups compared to the control: 60% (CI95% 48-71%), 43% (CI95% 31-55%) and 11% (CI95% 5-20%) respectively. The response was significantly better in H1-coil, than in 8-coil group OR = 2.33; CI95% 1.04-5.21 (P = 0.040). The HAM-D17 was lowered by 59% in the H1-coil, 41% in the 8-coil (P = 0.048), and 17% in the control group (P < 0.001 vs H1-coil; P = 0.003 vs 8-coil). Safety, tolerability, and the changes in quality of life were comparable. We confirmed the safety and efficacy of both FDA-approved protocols as adjunctive treatments of MDD. Better response rate and greater reduction of depression severity were observed in the H1-coil group, but without a significant difference in the remission rate between the two rTMS modalities. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.govNCT02917499.

Modulation of Resting Connectivity Between the Mesial Frontal Cortex and Basal Ganglia

Background: The mesial prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and the ventral striatum are key nodes of the human mesial fronto-striatal circuit involved in decision-making and executive function and pathological disorders. Here we ask whether deep wide-field repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the mesial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) influences resting state functional connectivity. Methods: In Study 1, we examined functional connectivity using resting state multi-echo and independent components analysis in 154 healthy subjects to characterize default connectivity in the MPFC and mid-cingulate cortex (MCC). In Study 2, we used inhibitory, 1 Hz deep rTMS with the H7-coil targeting MPFC and dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) in a separate group of 20 healthy volunteers and examined pre- and post-TMS functional connectivity using seed-based and independent components analysis. Results: In Study 1, we show that MPFC and MCC have distinct patterns of functional connectivity with MPFC-ventral striatum showing negative, whereas MCC-ventral striatum showing positive functional connectivity. Low-frequency rTMS decreased functional connectivity of MPFC and dACC with the ventral striatum. We further showed enhanced connectivity between MCC and ventral striatum. Conclusions: These findings emphasize how deep inhibitory rTMS using the H7-coil can influence underlying network functional connectivity by decreasing connectivity of the targeted MPFC regions, thus potentially enhancing response inhibition and decreasing drug-cue reactivity processes relevant to addictions. The unexpected finding of enhanced default connectivity between MCC and ventral striatum may be related to the decreased influence and connectivity between the MPFC and MCC. These findings are highly relevant to the treatment of disorders relying on the mesio-prefrontal-cingulo-striatal circuit.

Alternate day dTMS combined with SSRIs for chronic treatment resistant depression: A prospective multicenter study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic treatment resistant depression takes a substantial toll on patients' quality of life and alternative treatment options are limited. This prospective multicenter study evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of four weeks of thrice-a-week deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

METHODS

Forty patients who failed to respond during a 16-week double-blind placebo controlled (DBPC) trial of dTMS or sham dTMS as monotherapy were screened and started a treatment of previously tolerable but ineffective SSRI. After ten days of medication, high frequency dTMS was added three times a week for four weeks.

RESULTS

dTMS combined with SSRIs was well tolerated, with only headaches as a related adverse event (n = 4), which did not cause drop outs. Six patients were excluded from analysis: 1 was missing screening data and 5 received less than 10 sessions. Out of 34 patients included in this study, 12 (35.3%) patients remitted (HDRS-21 < 10). No significant differences were found between patients who had received sham or active dTMS in the earlier DBPC multicenter trial.

LIMITATIONS

This was a small scale open study of dTMS with SSRIs in patients that failed to respond during a DBPC dTMS trial, although a carryover effect cannot be excluded. Comparative efficacy of dTMS with and without SSRIs and specific dosing and protocol parameters warrant specifically-designed large-scale controlled studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Thrice weekly dTMS at 120% motor threshold(MT), 10 HZ, 3‑s trains, 20‑s intervals, 2400 daily pulses, can augment formerly ineffective SSRI treatment.

Efficacy, tolerability, and cognitive effects of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for late-life depression: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Late-life depression (LLD) is a growing worldwide problem due to demographic changes, with limited treatment options due to high rates of pharmacotherapy adverse effects, accessibility of psychotherapy, and tolerability of electroconvulsive therapy. Novel neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), may overcome these limitations. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy, tolerability, and cognitive effects of high-dose deep rTMS in LLD. In this study we randomized older adults between 60 and 85 years old with major depressive disorder (MDD) to sham or active deep rTMS (H1 coil, 6012 pulses, 18 Hz, 120% of resting motor threshold) delivered over the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex 5 days per week over 4 weeks. Our primary outcome was remission of depression in an intention-to-treat analysis. We also assessed change in cognitive functioning with rTMS treatment and tolerability based on adverse effects. Fifty-two participants were randomized to active (n = 25) or sham H1 coil (n = 27). Remission rate was significantly higher with active than sham rTMS (40.0% vs 14.8%) with a number needed to treat of 4.0 (95% CI: 2.1-56.5). There was no change on any measure of executive function and no serious adverse events. Adverse effect profiles were similar between active and sham rTMS, except for reports of pain being significantly more common in the active condition (16.0% vs 0%). High-dose deep rTMS appears to be safe, well tolerated, and efficacious in the treatment of LLD.

Add-on high frequency deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) to bilateral prefrontal cortex in depressive episodes of patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder I, and major depressive with alcohol use disorders

BACKGROUND

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is critically involved in mood and alcohol use disorders.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the safety of intervention with add-on bilateral prefrontal high-frequency deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) and between-group differences in treatment response in patients with different types of depressive episodes, including major depressive episodes in the course of major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, type I (BD-I), and MDD with alcohol use disorder (MDAUD).

METHODS

We conducted a 6-month open-label study, involving 82 patients with DSM-5 Depressive Episode. Of these, 41 had diagnosis of MDD, 20 BD-I, and 21 MDAUD. All patients received standard drug treatment and add-on dTMS over the bilateral DLPFC with left prevalence for four weeks, with five sessions in each week. We rated mood state with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at baseline, one-month, and six-month follow-up visits.

RESULTS

Mean total HDRS scores dropped from 22.8 (SD = 5.9) at baseline to 10.4 (SD = 3.6) at 1 month, to 10.0 (SD = 4.5) at 6 months, while response/remission were 70.73% (N = 58) and 19.51% (N = 16) at 1 month and 76.83% (N = 63) and 32.93% (27) at 6 months, respectively, with no between-group differences. No patient experienced any side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

High-frequency DLPFC dTMS was well tolerated and did not significantly differ on improvement of depression in MDD, BD-I, and MDAUD.

An Update of a Meta-Analysis on the Clinical Outcomes of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (DTMS) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Abstract. Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) is a noninvasive therapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). The current study aimed to update a previous meta-analysis by investigating the acute and longer-term clinical outcomes of DTMS and their possible predictors (patient characteristics and stimulation parameters) in unipolar MDD. A systematic literature search identified 11 studies with 282 treatment-resistant, unipolar MDD patients. The clinical outcomes (depression severity, response and remission rates) were evaluated using random-effects meta-analyses. High frequency and intensity DTMS protocol with H1-coil had significant acute antidepressant outcomes and improved some cognitive functions after 20 daily sessions in unipolar MDD. Response rates tended to increase with lower severity of illness. Antidepressant effects were prolonged if maintenance DTMS was used after daily stimulation phases. DTMS consistently improves various symptom domains (antidepressant, cognitive) in treatment-resistant unipolar MDD.

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) - beyond depression

INTRODUCTION

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) utilizes different H-coils to study and treat a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions with identifiable brain targets. The availability of this technology is dramatically changing the practice of psychiatry and neurology as it provides a safe and effective way to treat even drug-resistant patients. However, up until now, no effort was made to summarize the different types of H-coils that are available, and the conditions for which they were tested. Areas covered: Here we assembled all peer reviewed publication that used one of the H-coils, together with illustrations of the effective field they generate within the brain. Currently, the technology has FDA clearance for depression and European clearance for additional disorders, and multi-center trials are exploring its safety and effectiveness for OCD, PTSD, bipolar depression and nicotine addiction. Expert commentary: Taken together with positive results in smaller scale experiments, dTMS coils represent a non-invasive way to manipulate pathological activity in different brain structures and circuits. Advances in stimulation and imaging methods can now lead to efficacious and logical treatments. This should reduce the stigma associated with mental disorders, and improve access to psychiatric treatment.

Seizure Induced by Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in an Adolescent with Depression

OBJECTIVE

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with an H-1 coil was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adults. Studies assessing the safety and effectiveness of deep TMS in adolescent TRD are lacking. The purpose of this brief report is to provide a case history of an adolescent enrolled in an investigational deep TMS protocol.

METHODS

A case history is described of the first participant of a sham-controlled clinical trial who had a seizure in the course of deep TMS with parameter settings extrapolated from the adult studies that led to US FDA approval (H-1 coil, 120% target stimulation intensity, 18 Hz, 55 trains of 2-second duration, total 1980 pulses).

RESULTS

The participant was a 17-year-old unmedicated female, with no significant medical history and no history of seizures or of drug or alcohol use. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed no structural abnormalities. She initially received sham, which was well tolerated. During active treatment sessions, titration began at 85% of motor threshold (MT) and increased by 5% per day. Her weekly MT measurements were stable. On her first day of 120% MT (8th active treatment), during the 48th train, the participant had a generalized, tonic-clonic seizure that lasted 90 seconds and resolved spontaneously. She had an emergency medicine evaluation and was discharged home without anticonvulsant medications. There were no further seizures reported at a 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a deep TMS-induced generalized tonic-clonic seizure in an adolescent with TRD participating in a clinical trial. Given the demonstrated benefits of deep TMS for adult TRD, research investigating its use in adolescents with TRD is an important area. However, in light of this experience, additional precautions for adolescents should be considered. We propose that further dose-finding investigations are needed to refine adolescent-specific parameters that may be safe and effective for treating adolescents with TRD with deep TMS.

Challenging Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: A Roadmap for Improved Therapeutics

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with a significant burden and costs to the society. As remission of depressive symptoms is achieved in only one-third of the MDD patients after the first antidepressant trial, unsuccessful treatments contribute largely to the observed suffering and social costs of MDD. The present article provides a summary of the therapeutic strategies that have been tested for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). A computerized search on MedLine/PubMed database from 1975 to September 2014 was performed, using the keywords “treatment-resistant depression”, “major depressive disorder”, “adjunctive”, “refractory” and “augmentation”. From the 581 articles retrieved, two authors selected 79 papers. A manual searching further considered relevant articles of the reference lists. The evidence found supports adding or switching to another antidepressant from a different class is an effective strategy in more severe MDD after failure to an initial antidepressant trial. Also, in subjects resistant to two or more classes of antidepressants, some augmentation strategies and antidepressant combinations should be considered, although the overall response and remission rates are relatively low, except for fast acting glutamatergic modulators. The wide range of available treatments for TRD reflects the complexity of MDD, which does not underlie diverse key features of the disorder. Larger and well-designed studies applying dimensional approaches to measure efficacy and effectiveness are warranted.

Cognitive functioning and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) in major psychiatric disorders: A systematic review

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method mostly utilised in the treatment of major depression. The aim of the current study was to systematically review the literature on the cognitive effects of DTMS applied with the H-coil system in major psychiatric disorders. Following a literature search in PsycInfo and PubMed (any time to December 2015), 13 out of 32 studies on DTMS and cognitive functioning were included in the current review. Three studies included 38 healthy participants, eight studies included 158 unipolar or bipolar depression patients and two studies included 45 schizophrenia patients. Low-frequency DTMS (1-3 sessions) had little effect on cognitive functioning in healthy participants. The most consistent cognitive and clinical improvements were reported in the short-term (after 20 daily sessions of high-frequency DTMS with H1-coil) in studies with major depression patients. There was also a trend towards a short-term cognitive and clinical improvement in studies with schizophrenia patients. High-frequency DTMS might improve cognitive functioning and alleviate clinical symptoms in the short-term, particularly in major depression. However, this conclusion is based on data from mostly uncontrolled, open-label studies with patients receiving concurrent antidepressants or antipsychotics. Randomised, sham-controlled trials are needed to investigate the magnitude of the cognitive outcomes of DTMS in the short-term and beyond the daily stimulation phase in major psychiatric disorders.

Acute reduction in anxiety after deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) in unipolar major depression- a systematic review and meta-analysis

The current study investigated the anxiolytic properties of the deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) in unipolar major depression using a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Compared to baseline, large anxiolytic and antidepressant outcomes were obtained after 20 daily sessions of high-frequency DTMS according to data from six open-label studies with 95 patients. Unlike the antidepressant effect, the anxiolytic effect was more heterogeneous among studies and did not depend on concurrent treatment with antidepressants.

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) in the treatment of major depression: An exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (DTMS) is a relatively new, non-invasive method of stimulating larger and, presumably, deeper brain regions. The current study investigated if DTMS delivered with H-coils has acute antidepressant effects in major depression using a systematic literature review and a quantitative meta-analysis.

METHODS

Seventeen studies on 'DTMS or H-coil' and 'depression' were identified on Medline, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar (until November 2014). Data from nine open-label studies were meta-analysed using a random-effects model with inverse-variance weights. The outcome measures were the standardised paired mean difference (Cohen's d) in depression scores on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), response, remission, and dropout rates after acute DTMS treatment compared to baseline.

RESULTS

There was a large antidepressant effect after 20 acute, high-frequency DTMS sessions compared to baseline according to HDRS change scores (overall mean weighted d=2.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.53-2.55; nine studies; 150 patients). Overall weighted response, remission, and dropout rates were 60%, 29%, and 18% respectively. HDRS change scores and response rates tended to be higher in four studies with 68 patients on concurrent antidepressants compared to two studies with 26 patients who received DTMS as a monotherapy.

LIMITATIONS

These results are based on data from a low number of open-label studies.

CONCLUSION

High-frequency DTMS appears to have acute antidepressant effects after 20 sessions in mostly unipolar and treatment-resistant patients. Concurrent treatment with antidepressants might enhance the efficacy of DTMS.

Antidepressant effectiveness of deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with or without Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs): a 6-month, open label, follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Co-occurrence of Major Depressive (MDD) and Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) is frequent, causing more burden than each disorder separately. Since the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is critically involved in both mood and reward and dysfunctional in both conditions, we aimed to evaluate the effects of dTMS stimulation of bilateral DLPFC with left prevalence in patients with MDD with or without concomitant AUD.

METHODS

Twelve MDD patients and 11 with concomitant MDD and AUD (MDD+AUD) received 20 dTMS sessions. Clinical status was assessed through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions severity scale (CGIs), craving through the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) in MDD+AUD, and functioning with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in sociodemographic (age, sex, years of education and duration of illness) and baseline clinical characteristics, including scores on assessment scales. Per cent drops on HDRS and CGIs scores at the end of the sessions were respectively 62.6% and 78.2% for MDD+AUD, and 55.2% and 67.1% for MDD (p<0.001). HDRS, CGIs and GAF scores remained significantly improved after the 6-month follow-up. HDRS scores dropped significantly earlier in MDD+AUD than in MDD LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and factors inherent to site and background treatment may have affected results.

CONCLUSIONS

High frequency bilateral DLPFC dTMS with left preference was well tolerated and effective in patients with MDD, with or without AUD. The antidepressant effect of dTMS is not affected by alcohol abuse in patients with depressive episodes. The potential use of dTMS for mood modulation as an adjunct to treatment in patients with a depressive episode, with or without alcohol abuse, deserves further investigation.