Eranti, Savitha, Mogg, Andrew, Pluck, Graham, Landau, Sabine, Purvis, Rick, Brown, Richard G., Howard, Robert, Knapp, Martin 
ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215, Philpot, Michael, Rabe-Hesketh, Sophia, Romeo, Renee, Rothwell, John, Edwards, Denzil and McLoughlin, Declan M.
(2007)
A randomized, controlled trial with 6-month follow-up of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy for severe depression.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 164 (1).
pp. 73-81.
ISSN 0002-953X
Abstract
Objective: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been reported to be as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depression. The authors conducted a multicenter randomized, controlled trial to test the equivalence of rTMS with ECT. Method: Forty-six patients with major depression referred for ECT were randomly assigned to either a 15-day course of rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (N=24) or a standard course of ECT (N=22). The primary outcome measures were the score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the proportion of patients with remissions (Hamilton score, ≤8) at the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included mood self-ratings on the Beck Depression Inventory-II and visual analogue mood scales, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score, and both self-reported and observer-rated cognitive changes. The patients were followed up after 6 months. Results: HAM-D scores at the end of treatment were significantly lower for ECT, with 13 patients (59.1%) achieving remission in the ECT group and four (16.7%) in the rTMS group. However, at 6 months the HAM-D scores did not differ between groups. Beck scale, visual analogue mood scale, and BPRS scores were lower for ECT at the end of treatment and remained lower after 6 months. Self- and observer-rated cognitive measures were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: rTMS was not as effective as ECT, and ECT was substantially more effective for the short-term treatment of depression.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/ |
| Additional Information: | © 2007 American Psychiatric Association |
| Divisions: | Social Policy Care Policy and Evaluation Centre |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Feb 2008 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Sep 2025 07:16 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/3303 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
