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PILOT STUDY OF THE CLINICAL AND COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF HIGH-FREQUENCY MAGNETIC SEIZURE THERAPY IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

  1. Paul B. Fitzgerald M.B.B.S., M.P.M., Ph.D., F.R.A.N.Z.C.P.1,*,
  2. Kate E. Hoy D.Psych.1,
  3. Sally E. Herring D.Psych.1,
  4. Anne Maree Clinton P.Grad.Dip.2,
  5. Glenn Downey M.B.B.S., F.A.N.Z.C.A.3,
  6. Zafiris J. Daskalakis M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.(C)4

Article first published online: 18 OCT 2012

DOI: 10.1002/da.22005

Issue

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety

Volume 30, Issue 2, pages 129–136, February 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fitzgerald, P. B., Hoy, K. E., Herring, S. E., Clinton, A. M., Downey, G. and Daskalakis, Z. J. (2013), PILOT STUDY OF THE CLINICAL AND COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF HIGH-FREQUENCY MAGNETIC SEIZURE THERAPY IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER. Depress. Anxiety, 30: 129–136. doi: 10.1002/da.22005

Author Information

  1. 1

    Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University Central Clinical School, Victoria, Australia

  2. 2

    Department of Psychiatry, The Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia

  3. 3

    Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia

  4. 4

    Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

*Correspondence to: Prof. Paul B. Fitzgerald, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Level 4, 607 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia. E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@monash.edu

  1. Contract grant sponsor: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); Contract grant sponsor: beyondblue.

  2. Clinical trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 00808938 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 JAN 2013
  2. Article first published online: 18 OCT 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 AUG 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 10 JUL 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 FEB 2012

Funded by

  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
  • NHMRC Training Fellowship
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • beyondblue: the national depression initiative
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)

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Keywords:

  • brain stimulation;
  • mood disorders;
  • treatment;
  • cognitive;
  • antidepressant

Background

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a very commonly used treatment for patients with severe and treatment-resistant depression. Although effective, this treatment is complicated by a number of side effects including cognitive impairment motivating attempts to develop treatment alternatives. Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a brain stimulation technique using a high-powered transcranial magnetic stimulation device to produce therapeutic seizures. Preliminary research suggests that MST has antidepressant activity in the absence of cognitive side effects. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and cognitive profile of MST provided at high frequency (100 Hz) and potentially longer stimulation trains and longer treatment courses than have been previously investigated.

Methods

Thirteen patients participated in an open-label clinical trial of up to 18 treatment sessions with 100-Hz MST. Assessments of depression severity and cognitive functioning were performed before and after treatment.

Results

Of the 13 patients who completed the study, five met clinical response criteria at study end. There was an overall group reduction in depression severity and no evidence of any impairment of orientation, memory, or other elements of cognition after MST treatment. The major limitation of the study was its lack of sham control.

Conclusions

In conclusion, MST shows antidepressant efficacy without apparent cognitive side effects. However, substantial research is required to understand the optimal conditions for stimulation and to compare MST to established treatments including ECT.

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