OBJECTIVE: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been shown to be a useful therapy for depression. This paper evaluates the results of bi-weekly low-frequency TMS of 4 weeks duration, in 10 patients with depression who do not respond or are intolerant to antidepressive medication. METHODS: This is a case series study. DMS-IV criteria were used to diagnose depression. In order to disclose possible improvements in depressive symptoms, the 17 items Hamilton scale was used at three different moments: at the beginning, middle and end of the treatment period. Results were analysed using Friedman's x² test. RESULTS: Hamilton's scale score improvement was > 50% in five patients and > 75% in 3 of these. CONCLUSIONS: TMS may be efficacious, safe and easily performed as an adjunct to medical treatment of depression. We cannot differentiate a potentiation of the effect of antidepressive medication from an intrinsic effect of TMS alone, since we did not treat any subjects without the concurrent use of medication.
Neurophysiology; Depression; Magnetics
