Opinion

RTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) could be used as a First Line Treatment for Depression

Georgios Mikellides*

University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Submission: August 17, 2018; Published: August 24, 2018

*Corresponding author:Georgios Mikellides, honorary Assistant Professor University of Nicosia, Cyprus; Email: george.mikellides@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Georgios Mikellides. Georgios Mikellides. Glob J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2018; 5(1): 555655. DOI: 10.19080/GJIDD.2018.05.555655

Opinion

rTMS is considered as a non-invasive treatment option for depression. rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a non-invasive medical therapy that uses recurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression (FDA approved) and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

rTMS is a brain stimulation technique based on the production of short magnetic fields using an insulated coil placed over the scalp. These magnetic fields are of the same type as those used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging. Magnetic pulses produce a weak electrical current in the brain that activates neuronal circuits. This treatment has been shown to be a safe and well tolerated procedure that can be effective in patients with depression or other neuropsychiatric disorders..

Since the above approval of rTMS for depression by the FDA and NICE Uk [1], and it is been considered as an effective and safe treatment for depression there is a possibility to be provided as a first line treatment for depression and there is not an apparent reason not to [2]. Also, studies suggest that can have a use in OCD[3] obsessive–compulsive disorder, auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia[4], PTSD[5], stroke[6], migraines[7] and dementia[8] and perhaps in more neuropsychiatric disorders [9].

Since the above approval of rTMS for depression by the FDA and NICE Uk [1], and it is been considered as an effective and safe treatment for depression there is a possibility to be provided as a first line treatment for depression and there is not an apparent reason not to [2]. Also, studies suggest that can have a use in OCD[3] obsessive–compulsive disorder, auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia[4], PTSD[5], stroke[6], migraines[7] and dementia[8] and perhaps in more neuropsychiatric disorders [9].

References

1. NICE (2015) Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression.
2. Trevizol AP, Shiozawa P, Sato IA (2016) Transcranial magnetic stimulation for anxiety symptoms: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Abnorm Behav Psychol 2(1).
3. Berlim MT, Neufeld NH, Van den Eynde F (2013) Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for obsessive–compulsive: an exploratory meta-analysis of randomized and sham-controlled trials. J Psychiatr Res 47(8): 999-1006.
4. Dollfus S, Lecardeur L, Morello R, Etard O (2016) Placebo response in repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation trials of treatment of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Schizophr Bull 42(2): 301-308.
5. Rosenberg PB, Mehndiratta RB, Mehndiratta YP, Wamer A, Rosse RB, et al. (2002) Repetitive transcranial stimulation treatment of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression. J Neuropsych Clin Neurosci 14(3): 270-276.
6. Soleimani R, Jalali M, Hasandokht T (2016) Therapeutic impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 273(7): 1663-1675
7. NICE (2014) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for treating and preventing migraine
8. Barwood CHS, Murdoch BE, Whelan BM (2011) Improved language performance subsequent to low-frequency rTMS in patients with chronic non-fluent aphasia post-stroke. Eur J Neurol 18(7): 935-943.
9. Fei Wang, Guang-ming Chang, Qian Yu (2015) The Neuroprotection of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Pre-treatment in Vascular Dementia Rats. J Mol Neurosci 56(1): 198-204.
10. Georgios M, Marianna T. A Case of Treatment Resistant Depression Who Did Not Respond Sufficiently to ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) and Responded Fully with rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). Biomed J Sci&Tech Res 8(1)- 2018.