Background: Despite growing evidence supporting the clinical interest of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), little is known regarding the effects of clinical and sociodemographic factors on the clinical outcome in patients.
Methods: We retrospectively investigated the effects of clinical (using the 3-factor model of the Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale [MADRS] encompassing dysphoria, retardation and vegetative symptoms) and sociodemographic characteristics of participants on clinical outcome in a sample of 54 TRD patients receiving low frequency rTMS (1Hz, 360 pulses) applied over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex combined with sham venlafaxine.
Results: Responders (n=29) displayed lower retardation baseline scores (13.6±2.9) than non-responders (15.6±2.9; n=25; P=0.02). We also observed a significant difference between the numbers of ex-smokers in responders and non-responders groups; all ex-smokers (n=8) were responders to rTMS (P=0.005).
Conclusion: Low MADRS retardation factor and ex-smoker status is highly prevalent in responders to low frequency rTMS. Further studies are needed to investigate the predictive value of these factors.
Keywords: Depression; MADRS; Nicotine; Retardation; Smoking; rTMS.
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