The effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in patients with the obsessive-compulsive disorder: a double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial

Seyed Alireza Haji Seyed Javadi,Adeleh Askari Diarjani

doi:10.1186/s43045-022-00172-6

Seyed Alireza Haji Seyed Javadi, Adeleh Askari Diarjani

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00172-6

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Abstract

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complicated neuropsychiatric disorder, which its prevalence ranges from 2 to 4%. In 30–60% of patients due to intolerance of side effects or partial response to treat symptoms of the disease remain or relapse. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive therapeutic option to treat this condition. Transcranial magnetic stimulation can be applied for treating with no anesthesia. The current study intended to evaluate the effectiveness of low-frequency rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as an adjunct treatment in combination with standard medication in patients with OCD.ResultsIn both groups of intervention and sham, the Y-BOCS scale was decreased. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.82). Also after 15 sessions, the symptoms of OCD patients were improved. Although the treatment process was the same in the control group, none of the patients showed any serious complications, such as seizures, severe headache, neurological complication, or cognitive impairment during treatment.ConclusionsIt seems that treatment with 1 Hz rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex does not play an effective role in the recovery of OCD patients.Trial registrationName of the registry: Therapeutic effect comparison of the Repetitive Transcranial MagneticMagnetic Stimulation (RTMS) combination therapy with drug versus medication monotherapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Trial registration number: IRCT ID: IRCT20200728048240N1. Date of registration: 2020/8/8.

Highlights

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complicated neuropsychiatric disorder, which its prevalence ranges from 2 to 4%
Different research on brain-imaging functions, for instance, positron emission tomography (PET), is associated with an enhanced function of the frontal lobes, the basal ganglia, and the cingulum of those who suffer from OCD
The current study intended to evaluate the effectiveness of low-frequency Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as an adjunct treatment in combination with standard medication in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Summary

Introduction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complicated neuropsychiatric disorder, which its prevalence ranges from 2 to 4%. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric problem with varying degrees, ranging from very severe and debilitating to mild symptoms [1]. The prevalence of this disease has been reported at 1–3% in the general population [2]. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the first-line treatment for OCD. SSRI often declines the intensity of OCD presentations by 20–30%, which is low [10]. These patients benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) [11, 12]. Many patients (40–60%) do not respond satisfactorily to pharmacotherapy, and even after switching to other treatments, the final goal is still not obtained [15], which has been seen in severe cases resistant to OCD treatment

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