The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on depression, visual perception, and activities of daily living in stroke patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The present study aimed to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on visual perception, depression, and activities of daily livings (ADLs) in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-four stroke patients were divided equally into an experimental group that underwent rTMS and a control group that underwent mock rTMS. Changes in patient visual perception, depression, and ADLs were evaluated. All subjects underwent treatment for 20 minutes, 5 times per week, for 4 weeks. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Motor-free Visual Perception Test (MVPT) and Functional Independent Measurement (FIM) were respectively used to assess depression, visual perception and ADLs. [Results] The experimental group showed significant improvements in depression, visual perception, and ADLs between week 1 and 4, between week 1 and 8, and between week 4 and 8. Meanwhile, the control group showed no differences between week 1 and 4, and although, like in the experimental group, a significant difference was observed in depression and visual perception between Week 1 and 8, there was no significant difference in ADLs. [Conclusion] These demonstrate that rTMS has a positive impact on visual perception, depression, and ADLs.

Novel TMS for Stroke and Depression (NoTSAD): Accelerated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Post-stroke Depression

“…In terms of number of patients going from "depressed" (HAMD ≥ 8) to "non-depressed" (HAMD < 8), four participants (66.67%) had moderate depression (HAMD 14-18) and 2 (33.33%) had severe depression (19)(20)(21)(22) at baseline. At postassessment, all scores dropped below the cut-off for nondepressed.…”

“…Remission status persisted in five of the six patients at 3-months follow-up, with one patient scoring borderline mild depressed but still maintaining a 47% reduction in her depression score from baseline. There have been a few other small studies that have looked at rTMS for chronic PSD (9,(19)(20)(21) as well as a recent metaanalysis of 22 randomized controlled trials comparing active rTMS stimulation to sham stimulation (10). These trials indicated that rTMS is an effective tool to treat chronic PSD.…”

“…There have been a few other small studies that have looked at rTMS for chronic PSD ( 9 , 19 – 21 ) as well as a recent meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials comparing active rTMS stimulation to sham stimulation ( 10 ). These trials indicated that rTMS is an effective tool to treat chronic PSD.…”

Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

“…In 2012, a multicenter RCT, which included 204 patients with hemiplegia after stroke, found that low-frequency rTMS could promote the recovery of limb function on the hemiplegic side, and there were no adverse reactions in all patients ( 32 ). Some studies considered that the effect of rTMS for stroke recovery may be related to its improvement on cortical plasticity and synaptic plasticity in the central nervous system ( 33 ). In addition, some studies found that rTMS therapy could also increase the initiative of patients and promote active rehabilitation exercise by improving depressive symptoms, and finally achieve neurological function recovery ( 34 ).…”

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as Treatment of Poststroke Depression

“…5). Sensitivity analysis showed changes in the direction of the effect when the study published by Gu and Chang 15 or published by Kim et al 16 was excluded (Supplementary Fig. Jorge et al 8 reported that of the 10 patients who received active rTMS, 3 patients met criteria for clinical response and 1 patient met criteria for remission of depression, whereas none of the patients who received sham stimulation met criteria for either response or remission of depression at 3 weeks after treatment.…”