Short-term and long-term efficacy of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ruifeng Shi; Zuxing Wang; Dong Yang; Yujie Hu; Zhongyang Zhang; Daotao Lan; Yihan Su; Yunqiong Wang

doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05545-1

Short-term and long-term efficacy of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 7;24(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05545-1.

Authors

Ruifeng Shi^#¹, Zuxing Wang^#¹, Dong Yang¹, Yujie Hu¹, Zhongyang Zhang¹, Daotao Lan¹, Yihan Su², Yunqiong Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, No. 32, West 2nd Section, 1st Ring Road, 610031, Chengdu, Qingyang District, China.
² Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, No. 32, West 2nd Section, 1st Ring Road, 610031, Chengdu, Qingyang District, China. suyihan1984@163.com.
³ Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, No. 32, West 2nd Section, 1st Ring Road, 610031, Chengdu, Qingyang District, China. wangyunqiong1972@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: In recent years, accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) has been developed, which has a shortened treatment period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term maintenance effects of aTMS in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: We systematically searched online databases for aTMS studies in patients with MDD published before February 2023 and performed a meta-analysis on the extracted data.

Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 before-and-after controlled studies were included. The findings showed that depression scores significantly decreased following the intervention (SMD = 1.80, 95% CI (1.31, 2.30), p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in antidepressant effectiveness between aTMS and standard TMS (SMD = -0.67, 95% CI (-1.62, 0.27), p = 0.16). Depression scores at follow-up were lower than those directly after the intervention based on the depression rating scale (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI (0.06, 0.37), p = 0.006), suggesting a potential long-term maintenance effect of aTMS. Subgroup meta-analysis results indicated that different modes of aTMS may have diverse long-term effects. At the end of treatment with the accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (arTMS) mode, depressive symptoms may continue to improve (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI (0.10, 0.49), I² = 22%, p = 0.003), while the accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) mode only maintains posttreatment effects (SMD = 0.01, 95% CI (-0.45, 0.47), I² = 66%, p = 0.98).

Conclusions: Compared with standard TMS, aTMS can rapidly improve depressive symptoms, but there is no significant difference in efficacy. aTMS may also have long-term maintenance effects, but longer follow-up periods are needed to assess this possibility.

Trial registration: This article is original and not under simultaneous consideration for publication. The study was registered on PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ ) (number: CRD42023406590).

Keywords: Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation; Long-term efficacy; Major depressive disorder; Short-term efficacy.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
Depression / therapy
Depressive Disorder, Major* / drug therapy
Humans
Research Design
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation* / methods

Substances

Antidepressive Agents