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Two-Sided rTMS Treatment is Better Than One-Sided for People With Treatment-Resistant Depression
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) offers an alternative treatment for people with treatment-resistant depression. This study compared two-sided rTMS treatment to one-sided rTMS and sham (placebo) rTMS. This study also addressed limitations in other studies by using MRI to increase individualization of placing the rTMS device and extending the treatment weeks to up to six weeks.
Predicting rTMS Treatment Success for Depression Using Brain Connectivity
While repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective therapy for TRD, it’s difficult to predict which patients will benefit most. To address this, finding biological markers (biomarkers) that can predict treatment response is a crucial goal for providing personalized care. This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore brain activity patterns, aiming to discover neuroimaging biomarkers that can distinguish patients who will respond to rTMS from those who won’t.
Is taking bupropion during rTMS treatment associated with seizures?
The researchers of this paper attempted to determine if seizure risk increased when receiving rTMS and taking an antidepressant called bupropion (Wellbutrin). Researchers found that while rTMS-induced seizures are uncommon and may be linked to factors like sleep deprivation, taking multiple medications, or pre-existing neurological conditions, the review found no cases of rTMS-induced seizures in patients taking bupropion alone. This suggests that taking bupropion should not be considered a reason to avoid rTMS treatment.
rTMS & Depression: Are there other regions we should treat?
People with depression have altered activity in some parts of the brain. To treat depression, we can attempt to change this altered activity by using rTMS. However, the brain region we typically apply rTMS to only achieves remission rates of 30% to 35%. This has led researchers to explore alternative target regions that may result in a higher remission rate.
Measuring the coordination of brain regions can predict who will benefit from rTMS for depression
In this study, researchers propose a possible measurement that may be able to predict if an individual will positively respond to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment.
rTMS for Depression: Brain Images May Predict Recovery
Depression doesn’t just change the way we think and feel — it also changes the structure and function of our brain. Less efficient communication across brain regions may explain significant symptoms of depression that negatively affect problem-solving, memory, and emotional regulation. These changes are brain-wide — but, possibly, reversible with treatment. The authors of the current paper were wondering if brain-wide changes in structure or function could predict whether someone with treatment-resistant depression will respond to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This is important because if researchers could predict who would benefit from treatment using these brain-based measures, clinical treatments can be more efficient and personalized to what an individual is most likely to respond to.