Journal: Depression and Anxiety 27 (5):464-469 (2010)
Authors: O Rosenberg, N Shoenfeld, A Zangen, M Kotler, P.N Dannon
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has proven effective. Recently, a greater intracranial penetration coil has been developed.
The study tested the efficacy of the coil in the treatment of resistant major depression.
The study sample included seven patients suffering from major depression who were treated using BrainsWay’s H1-coil connected to a Magstim rapid 2 stimulator. Deep TMS treatment was given to each patient in five sessions per week over a period of 4 weeks.Patients were treated with 120% intensity of the motor threshold and a frequency of 20 HZ with a total of 1,680 pulses per session.
A significant improvement in HDRS scores was found when high, but not low, stimulation intensity was used. Several cognitive improvements were evident, and no treatment-related serious adverse events were observed.
This study provides additional evidence for the feasibility and safety of the two H-coil designs (H1/H2). The H-coils offer a safe new tool with potential for both research and clinical applications for psychiatric and neurological disorders associated with dysfunctions of deep brain regions.