The impact of 'cluster maintenance TMS' on irritability occurring in major depressive disorder. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pridmore, Saxby; Turnier-Shea, Yvonne; Erger, Sheila; May, Tamara
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 29:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 225
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: transcranial magnetic stimulation -- major depressive disorder -- irritability; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/1039856220943033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact of clustered maintenance transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on irritability occurring in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). Method: A naturalistic study of 106 courses that includes pre- and posttreatment assessments of subjective and objective depression and a subjective measure of irritability developed for this study. Results: Forty-six participants (35 females), mean age 43.2 years (14.3), completed 106 courses. There was a significant reduction in irritability and depression scores ( p < .001). The change in irritability scores was significantly correlated with the change in depression scores, r = .40, p < .001. Conclusion: TMS has the capacity to reduce the irritability co-occurring with treatment-resistant MDD, known to be responsive to TMS. This increases the possibility of using TMS in the treatment of irritability co-occurring with other disorders or standing alone (should irritability be categorized as a stand-alone disorder).