A randomized, controlled trial with 6-month follow-up of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression.

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Authors

Eranti, Savitha
Mogg, Andrew
Pluck, Graham
Landau, Sabine
Purvis, Rick
Brown, Richard G
Howard, Robert
Knapp, Martin
Philpot, Michael
Rabe-Hesketh, Sophia

Issue Date

2007-Jan

Type

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

en

Keywords

Research Projects

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Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been reported to be as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depression. The authors conducted a multicenter randomized, controlled trial to test the equivalence of rTMS with ECT.
Forty-six patients with major depression referred for ECT were randomly assigned to either a 15-day course of rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (N=24) or a standard course of ECT (N=22). The primary outcome measures were the score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the proportion of patients with remissions (Hamilton score, <or=8) at the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included mood self-ratings on the Beck Depression Inventory-II and visual analogue mood scales, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score, and both self-reported and observer-rated cognitive changes. The patients were followed up after 6 months.
HAM-D scores at the end of treatment were significantly lower for ECT, with 13 patients (59.1%) achieving remission in the ECT group and four (16.7%) in the rTMS group. However, at 6 months the HAM-D scores did not differ between groups. Beck scale, visual analogue mood scale, and BPRS scores were lower for ECT at the end of treatment and remained lower after 6 months. Self- and observer-rated cognitive measures were similar in the two groups.
rTMS was not as effective as ECT, and ECT was substantially more effective for the short-term treatment of depression.

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Citation

Eranti, S., Mogg, A., Pluck, G., Landau, S., Purvis, R., Brown, R. G., Howard, R., Knapp, M., Philpot, M., Rabe-Hesketh, S., Romeo, R., Rothwell, J., Edwards, D., & McLoughlin, D. M. (2007). A randomized, controlled trial with 6-month follow-up of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression. The American journal of psychiatry, 164(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.1.73

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Journal

The American journal of psychiatry

Volume

164

Issue

1

PubMed ID

ISSN

0002-953X

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