Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: a putative add-on treatment for major depression in elderly patients
Open accessAbstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a recent putative treatment for affective disorders. Several studies have demonstrated antidepressant effects of rTMS in younger patients; we aimed to assess its effect in older outpatients with treatment-resistant major depression. Twenty-four outpatients (mean age=62 years, S.D.=12) with major depression were randomized for sham or real stimulation and received 10 daily rTMS sessions (20 Hz, 2-s trains, 28-s intertrain intervals, 100% of motor threshold) in addition to the antidepressant medication. For sham stimulation, the coil was tilted 90 degrees. Depression severity was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, items from the NIMH self-rated symptom scale, and a visual analog depression scale. Mini-Mental Status Examination performance, memory, and executive and attentional functions were measured to control for cognitive side effects. Depression ratings revealed significant antidepressant effects within 2 weeks in both sham and real stimulation groups; however, there were no between-group differences. Treatment with rTMS was safe; adverse events were rare and not more prevalent in either group, and cognitive assessment did not show any deterioration. We were unable to demonstrate any additional antidepressant effects of real stimulation in elderly patients with treatment-resistant major depression. Therapeutic effects of rTMS in this clinically challenging patient group r…
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Other rTMS studies in late-life depression found no significant changes in cognitive function after treatment.
“However, other studies found no significant changes in cognitive function after treatment.”
Improvements in verbal learning may be secondary to improvement in mood.
“This association has also been observed in prior rTMS studies,17,36 suggesting that improvements in verbal learning may be secondary to improvement in mood.”
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- Authors
- Mosimann, U. P., Schmitt, W., Greenberg, B. D., Kosel, M., Müri, R. M., Berkhoff, M., Hess, C. W., Fisch, H. U., & Schlaepfer, T. E.
- Affiliations
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital (GB)
- University Hospital of Bern (CH)
- Brown University (US)
- University Hospital Bonn (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schlaepfer, Thomas E.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 126
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 123-133
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2137061709
- Cited by
- 192
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 5.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Keywords
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, major depressive disorder, elderly patients, treatment-resistant depression, adjunctive therapy, antidepressant effects, sham stimulation, cognitive side effects
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Cognition Disorders, Combined Modality Therapy, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Periodicity, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Skull, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
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