Treatment of Unipolar, Non-Psychotic Major Depressive Disorder with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Examining TMS Effects on Pharmacotherapy Changes, Acute and Long-Term Outcomes from a Retrospective Evaluation during Routine Clinical Practice

Abstract

Overall Data: The study population included 79 (68.7%) females and 36 males, with an average age of 48.7 (range 16 – 79). The mean number of TMS treatment sessions was 41.3 (±18.2) with a range of 1,600 4,600 pulses administered daily. 88 of 115 patients (76.5%) demonstrated a minimum 50% improvement in the BDI symptom score (establishing treatment response at the end of the acute phase), while 81 of 115 patients (70.4%) reported BDI symptom scores at or below 13 (establishing remission at the end of the acute phase).Total mean baseline BDI score was 25.5 (±10.3) and improved to a mean 10.4 (±8.7) at the end of treatment. BAI results (N=115) significantly improved from a mean of 15.0 (± 9.5) at baseline to a mean of 6.8 (± 7.7) at the end of treatment, resulting in BAI response and remission rates of 75.7% and 69.6% respectively. PHQ-9 results (N=110) demonstrated similar efficacy, indicating response and remission rates of 79.1% and 51.8%, respectively. (It is important to note that 11 patients reported a rating score of 5 on the PHQ-9, missing remission by one rating point.) (See Figure 1)