Electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and adolescents: a review and report of two cases of epilepsia partialis continua

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2005 Jan;14(1):193-210, viii-ix. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2004.07.010.

Abstract

Brain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders has received increasing attention over the past decade. The introduction of experimental means to stimulate the brain noninvasively with magnetic fields not only has raised interest in these novel means of modulating brain activity but also has refocused attention on a mainstay in the treatment of severe major depression and other disorders (electroconvulsive therapy). This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the use electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and magnetic seizure therapy in children and adolescents. Two cases of medically intractable epilepsia partialis continua are presented to add to the limited literature on the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and adolescents and illustrate the concept of using functional neuroimaging results to target the application of a focal intervention in an attempt to dampen hyperactive regions of the cortex.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Safety
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*