The effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment on the anxiety, depression and sleep problems duing to withdrawal reactions in alcohol dependence patients

Objective To investigate the efficacy of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment of patients with alcohol dependence, anxiety and depression, and sleep problems. Methods 80 patients with alcohol-dependent patients were randomly divided into experimental group (40 cases) and control group (40 cases). All patients received routine treatment and care, the experimental group received additional rTMS to stimulate parts of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal region (DLPFC) 2 brain regions, each side 15 minutes at frequency of 1Hz, patient motion stimulus intensity threshold (MT) of 80%, five times a week rTMS treatment, a total of 8 weeks, the control group received stimulation coil.Subjects were interviewed, as the time for the baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, assessment tools for the hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Results Compared with the pre-treatment, HAMA scores(19.5±6.4, 13.8±5.3, 7.3±5.4 respectively) were significantly lower in 2, 4, 8 weeks after treatment (t2=11.29, P<0.01; t4=15.26, P<0.01; t8=9.40, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, HAMA scores were significantly lower in the experimental group after treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the pre-treatment group HAMD scores(17.5±6.6, 11.2±4.9, 6.1±5.2 respectively)were significantly lower in 2, 4, 8 weeks after treatment (t2=15.54, P<0.01; t4=16.68, P<0.01; t8=18.77, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, HAMD scores were significantly lower in the experimental group after treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, PSQI scores were significantly lower in the experimental group in 2, 4, 8 weeks after treatment (t2=26.39, P<0.01; t4=15.21, P<0.01; t8=46.35, P<0.01). Conclusion Low-frequency rTMS treatment for alcohol dependence withdrawal symptoms can improve symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, sleep status. Key words: Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Alcohol dependence; Anxiety; Depression; Sleep