Journal article
A Pilot Investigation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Depression: Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy
Journal of neurotrauma, Vol.36(13), pp.2092-2098
07/01/2019
DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6097
PMID: 30712461
Abstract
Depression following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and difficult to treat using standard approaches. The current study investigated, for the first time, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of post TBI depression. We specifically assessed the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of TMS in this patient population. We also explored cognitive outcomes. Twenty-one patients with a current episode of major depression subsequent to a TBI participated in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of repetitive TMS (rTMS). Sequential bilateral rTMS (to the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) was provided in 20 treatments over a period of 4 weeks. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either active or sham stimulation. There were no adverse effects and treatment was well tolerated. There was no significant effect of rTMS on post-TBI depression, with all patients showing a significant improvement in depressive symptoms irrespective of their treatment group (p = 0.002). There were significant improvements in cognition following active rTMS in the areas of working memory (p = 0.021) and executive function (p = 0.029). rTMS was shown to be safe and well tolerated in patients who had developed depression after a TBI. We did not find a therapeutic effect for post-TBI depression; however, this approach may have some utility in improving cognitive function. Future research should focus on alternative rTMS treatment approaches for post-TBI depression and the direct investigation of rTMS as a treatment for cognitive impairment in TBI.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A Pilot Investigation of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Depression: Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy
- Creators
- Kate E. Hoy - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centreSusan McQueen - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centreDavid Elliot - Alfred HealthSally E. Herring - Epworth HospitalJerome J. Maller - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centrePaul B. Fitzgerald - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of neurotrauma, Vol.36(13), pp.2092-2098
- DOI
- 10.1089/neu.2018.6097
- PMID
- 30712461
- NLM abbreviation
- J Neurotrauma
- ISSN
- 0897-7151
- eISSN
- 1557-9042
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Fellowship; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (VNI)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984848424202771
Metrics
6 Record Views