Depression
Study
Depression**
Authors, title of the study and source:
Pascual-Leone A, Rubio B, Pallardo F, Catala MD. Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depression. Lancet, 1996; 347: 233-237
Number of patients: 17, multiple cross-over (per cycle, per patient randomised Verum or placebo)
Disease:
Unipolar (=not manic) depression, resistant to medication, psychotic Suptype DSM-III-R)
Treatment:
Once daily l, 5 days in a row per month, 5 month. randomised Verum or placebo. transcranial. 10 Hz, 90% intensity („motor threshold“)
Improvement:
Highly significant improvement, which lasted 2 weeks after a 5-day treatment. No adverse side effects.
Remarks:
The authors consider this therapy as a promising alternative to conventional therapy (electroconvulsive treatment)
** The treatment with pulsating magnetic field seems to be superior because of double blind controlled randomized studies of the Placebo-treatment.
* The treatment with pulsating magnetic field seems to be superior because of the controlled studies of the control-treatment.
