A Symptom-Specific Analysis of the Effect of High-Frequency Left or Low-Frequency Right Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Major Depression

Neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, are common in children and adolescents, but treatment strategies remain limited. Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been studied for neurodevelopmental disorders, there is no clear consensus on its therapeutic effects. This systematic review examined literature on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders published up to 2018 using the PubMed database. The search identified 264 articles and 14 articles met eligibility criteria. Twelve of these studies used conventional repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and two studies used theta burst stimulation. No severe adverse effects were reported in these studies. In patients with autism spectrum disorder, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and intermittent theta burst stimulation applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may have therapeutic effects on social functioning and repetitive behaviors. In patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may target inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In patients with tic disorders, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the bilateral supplementary motor area improved tic symptom severity. This systematic review suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may be a promising intervention for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. The results warrant further large randomized controlled trials of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Left and right High Frequency repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex does not affect mood in female volunteers

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2007.11.044 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 119 (3) ◽

pp. 568-575 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

C. Baeken ◽

L. Leyman ◽

R. De Raedt ◽

M.A. Vanderhasselt ◽

H. D’haenen

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

High Frequency ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

Left And Right ◽

Stimulation Of

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Antidepressant efficacy of high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in double-blind sham-controlled designs: a meta-analysis

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291708003462 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 65-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 228

Author(s):

D. J. L. G. Schutter

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Effect Size ◽

High Frequency ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Double Blind ◽

Left Dlpfc ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal

BackgroundFor more than a decade high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in search of an alternative treatment for depression. The aim of this study was to provide an update on its clinical efficacy by performing a meta-analysis involving double-blind sham-controlled studies.MethodA literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed and Web of Science in the period between January 1980 and November 2007 with the search terms ‘depression’ and ‘transcranial magnetic stimulation’. Thirty double-blind sham-controlled parallel studies with 1164 patients comparing the percentage change in depression scores from baseline to endpoint of activeversussham treatment were included. A random effects meta-analysis was performed to investigate the clinical efficacy of fast-frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC in depression.ResultsThe test for heterogeneity was not significant (QT=30.46,p=0.39). A significant overall weighted mean effect size,d=0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25–0.54], for active treatment was observed (z=6.52,p<0.0001). Medication resistance and intensity of rTMS did not play a role in the effect size.ConclusionsThese findings show that high-frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC is superior to sham in the treatment of depression. The effect size is robust and comparable to at least a subset of commercially available antidepressant drug agents. Current limitations and future prospects are discussed.

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