TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS) IN THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSION - A PILOT-STUDY

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a diagnostic method well es tablished in neurology. As some effects of TMS are similar to those of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), we looked for an antidepressant effi cacy of TMS in a semi-blinded monocentric pilot study. Fifteen patient s with Major Depression (DSM-III-R) were included. Ten patients were r andomized into two groups and treated with 250 transcranial magnetic s timuli/session for five consecutive days. Stimulus intensity in the tw o groups was motoric threshold +/-0.3 tesla respectively. Five patient s received placebo stimulation in a similar setting. As assessed by th e Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Clinical Global Impression (CG I), and the Adjective Mood Scale of von Zerssen (Bf-S/Bf-S'), there wa s an improvement of depressive symptoms in both verum groups, more pro nounced in the 'stimulation below threshold' group. Patients in the pl acebo group did not benefit from stimulation. Our data suggest that TM S might indeed have a relevant antidepressive efficacy.