Challenges in comparing the acute cognitive outcomes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) vs. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in major depression: A systematic review. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kedzior, Karina Karolina; Schuchinsky, Maria; Gerkensmeier, Imke; Loo, Colleen
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychiatric research. Volume 91(2017)
• Page Start: 14
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) -- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) -- Cognition -- Major depressive disorder (MDD); Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental Disorders -- Periodicals; Maladies mentales -- Périodiques; Psychiatry; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.03.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3956

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aimed to systematically compare the cognitive outcomes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in head-to-head studies with major depression (MDD) patients. A systematic literature search identified six studies with 219 MDD patients that were too heterogeneous to reliably detect meaningful differences in acute cognitive outcomes after ECT vs. HF-rTMS. Cognitive effects of brain stimulation vary depending on the timeframe and methods of assessment, stimulation parameters, and maintenance treatment. Thus, acute and longer-term differences in cognitive outcomes both need to be investigated at precisely defined timeframes and with similar instruments assessing comparable functions. Highlights: ECT and HF-rTMS have similar cognitive outcomes in six head-to-head studies. These results might be due to heterogeneous timing and assessment methods. Cognitive effects need to be assessed in longer-term after brain stimulation.