Objective: Despite effective psychological and pharmacological treatments, there is a large unmet burden of illness in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive intervention and a putative treatment strategy for PTSD. The evidence base to date suggests that rTMS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), in particular the right DLPFC, leads to improvements in PTSD symptoms. However, optimal stimulation parameters have yet to be determined. In this study, we examine the efficacy of high- and low-frequency rTMS of the right DLPFC using a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled design in civilian PTSD. Methods: We conducted a 2-week single-site randomized sham-controlled trial of rTMS targeting the right DLPFC. We recruited civilians aged 19 to 70 with PTSD and randomized subjects with allocation concealment to daily 1-Hz rTMS, 10-Hz rTMS, or sham rTMS. The primary outcome was improvement in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale–IV (CAPS-IV). Secondary outcomes included change in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results: We recruited 31 civilians with PTSD. One 1-Hz-treated patient developed transient suicidal ideation. Analyses revealed significant improvement in CAPS-IV symptoms in the 1-Hz group relative to sham (Hedges’ g = −1.07) but not in the 10-Hz group. This was not attributable to changes in anxious or depressive symptomatology. Ten-Hz stimulation appeared to improve depressive symptoms compared to sham. Conclusion: Low-frequency rTMS is efficacious in the treatment of civilian PTSD. Our data suggest that high-frequency rTMS of the right DLPFC is worthy of additional investigation for the treatment of depressive symptoms comorbid with PTSD.

ObjectiveMedically unexplained somatic complaints are highly prevalent, and lead to significant impairment and disability. The number of effective treatment modalities for somatic symptom and related disorders (SSDs) or somatoform disorders (SDs) remains limited. To date, there is no formal indication for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in SSD or SD. We report on the largest case series to date regarding the effectiveness of ECT in patients with SSD and SD.MethodsA retrospective chart review of all patients treated with an index course of ECT at the Neuropsychiatric Program at the University of British Columbia Hospital from 2000 to 2010 was conducted. The primary outcomes consisted of changes in pseudoneurologic symptoms, pain symptoms, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Complaints were examined pre- and post-ECT.ResultsTwenty-eight participants were included in this study. Twenty-one participants received right unilateral ECT. Six received bifrontal ECT. One received bitemporal ECT. Eighteen of 21 participants reported improvement in pseudoneurologic symptoms; eleven of 14 participants reported improvement in pain symptoms; one participant reported improvement in cardiopulmonary symptoms; and one of two participants reported improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms. This paper discusses the putative mechanism of action of ECT in the treatment of SD/SSD.ConclusionThis retrospective study suggests that ECT could be included as part of the existing treatment for refractory SSD and SD, particularly in refractory cases with comorbid mood disorders.

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Objectives: Clinician-scientists occupy an interesting position at the interface between science and care, and have a role to play in bridging the 2 valleys between fundamental and clinical research, and between clinical research and clinical practice. However, research training during medical residency for future clinician scientists is an important but challenging process. Our article, written by residents and directors of research-track (RT) programs, aimed at reviewing literature on RT programs for residents, and describing the organization of RT programs at 3 Canadian universities (the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, and McGill University). Methods:A systematic MEDLINE search was conducted for the review section. Psychiatry program directors in Canada were also contacted to provide information about potential RT programs.Results: Twenty articles were related to resident RT programs in medicine, including 6 in psychiatry. Moreover, 5 out of 16 Canadian programs were found to offer a formal RT program, of which 3 are described here. Most reviewed articles described the program organization, while only one provided an outcome assessment with evidence of increased scholarly activity following RT implementation. Conclusions:Our article sheds light on postgraduate programs aiming at facilitating the dual training of future clinician-scientists, and developed during the last 10 years. It also highlights the lack of outcome assessment, and the paucity of guidelines to organize these programs in relation to the national requirements. W W WLes programmes de travaux de recherche pour les résidents en psychiatrie : une revue de la littérature et un rapport sur 3 expériences canadiennes Objectifs : Les cliniciens scientifiques occupent une position intéressante à l'interface entre la science et les soins, et ont un rôle à jouer pour combler les 2 fossés entre la recherche fondamentale et la recherche clinique d'une part, et entre la recherche clinique et la pratique clinique d'autre part. Toutefois, la formation en recherche durant la résidence médicale pour les futurs cliniciens scientifiques est un processus important mais pleins de défis. Notre article, rédigé par des résidents et des directeurs de programmes de recherche (PR), portait sur une revue de la littérature traitant des programmes de PR pour les résidents, et une description de l'organisation des programmes de PR à 3 universités canadiennes