PMID: 29077135Oct 28, 2017Paper

Usefulness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of bipolar depression

Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie
A de BruijnP van Eijndhoven

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been found to be an effective technique in the treatment of unipolar depression. However, it is not yet clear whether rTMS is also useful in the treatment of bipolar depression. To evaluate the available evidence that rTMS is effective in the treatment of bipolar depression. Review of available literature (RCTs and open-label studies). We looked closely at four RCTs and four open-label studies. In three of the four RCTs the results for patients who had received rTMS were no better than those for patients who had received a placebo. Patients in all four open-label studies showed significant improvement. One individual developed hypomanic symptoms. The studies used many different parameters; some studies included diagnoses, some referred to the type of medication used. So far, there is a lack of high quality studies on which we can base our conclusions about the effectiveness of rTMS for the treatment of bipolar depression. The use of rTMS to treat patients with bipolar depression does not seem to increase the risk that a patient will develop (hypo)mania.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by manic and/or depressive episodes and associated with uncommon shifts in mood, activity levels, and energy. Discover the latest research this illness here.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved