The Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Clinical Improvement and the Signs Reduction Process of Depression in Patients with Recurrent Major Depression Disorder

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Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of rTMS (repetitive transcranial of magnetic stimulation) in clinical improvement and the signs reduction process of depression in patients with recurrent major depression disorder.
Method: Using a quasi experimental, pretest-posttest design with control group, a sample consisting of 32 patients who had recurrent depression on the basis of SCID & BDI scale and were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group underwent 20 sessions of rTMS as the independent factor and both groups (control & experimental) had 12 session psychotherapy and drugs treatment. Upon the intervention, both groups were tested with triplex tests to determine the effect of the independent factor on the dependent factor of rTMS. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and repeated measures.
Results: The beck depression scale and SCID clinical interview have showed that treatment with rTMS has significant effect in clinical improvement (P≤0/049 &P≤0/012) and also comparison post test mean in depression scale with pretest mean in both groups have reduced significantly (P≤0/001) but the reduction in experimental group has been more (18/25 versus 4/19). This shows that in comparison with usual treatment, rTMS results in more reduction in depression signs.
Conclusion: rTMS is effective in treatment of patients with recurrent major depression and this method can be used in combination treatment for depression.

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