Psychiatria pre prax 5–6/2010

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression

This article concerns with the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of depression. Its principal is to influence the brain using variable magnetic field. This method is safe and well tolerated with the minimum of side-effects. We have most experiences in psychiatry just in the treatment of depression. It is documented that rTMS influences cortical excitability and metabolic activity of neuronal cells. It has been conducted a lot of studies of its efficacy in the treatment of depression, which can be divided into three generations. Their outcomes were summarized in several metaanalyses. Last metaanalyses confirm that rTMS is a promising therapeutic method, although a lot of questions concerning especially with an exact mechanism of its action, optimal stimulation parameters and a selection of optimal patients, remain unanswered.

Keywords: depression, principle of rTMS, contraindications of rTMS, antidepressive effect of rTMS, efficacy of rTMS.