The impact of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on executive functioning of drug-free patients with treatment-resistant depression

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of 25 Hz high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on neuropsychological testing in treatment-resistant depression patients who were receiving no other concomitant medications for the treatment.METHODS: A total of 19 patients with treatment-resistant depression and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. A 25 Hz, 1000 pulse stimulation was set at 100% of the motor threshold and delivered 20 times for 2 s with 30 s intervals as 20 sessions to the depression group, and sham treatment was applied to the control group. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Stroop task, trail-making test (TMT), and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were performed both before and 3 days after the rTMS treatment. Seventeen-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were obtained at baseline and after the rTMS treatment, as well.RESULTS: After the rTMS treatment, 52.6% (10 of 19 patie...