Accelerated Bilateral rTMS on Geriatric Depression

Therapeutic Effect of Accelerated Bilateral Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Geriatric Depression: a Prospective Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of accelerated bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on major depression, anxiety, cognitive function and physiological parameters in elderly depressive patients.

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment, showing good therapeutic effect to medicine treatment-refractory patients. Recent studies suggested bilateral DLPFC might be effective to geriatric depression. Accelerated treatment course was reported to have similar therapeutic effect and safety profile with traditional course. The investigators hypothesize accelerated bilateral rTMS is effective to geriatric depression and comorbid anxiety. Cognitive impairment and decreased parasympathetic tone are common in patients with major depression. The investigators hypothesize cognitive function and physiological indicators improve after accelerated bilateral rTMS. In this single-center, prospective double-blind, randomized, active-controlled trial, the investigators aim to recruit 100 patients older than 60 years, without neurocognitive disorders, and refractory to one or more antidepressants. The experimental group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC followed by low-frequency inhibition at right DLPFC, two sessions daily, five days a week, and two weeks in total. The standard treatment group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation at left DLPFC as standard treatment parameters. Mood, cognition and physiological markers would be monitored every week. The primary outcome is response and remission rate of major depression measured by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation, geriatric depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, heart rate variability

The experimental group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation (10Hz) at left DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses) followed by low-frequency (1Hz) inhibition at right DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 10 trains, 1200 pulses), two sessions daily with a 1.5-hour inter-session interval (L't active-R't active-1.5 hr-L't active-R't active), five days a week, and two weeks in total.

The standard treatment group would receive an rTMS course with high-frequency stimulation (10Hz) at left DLPFC (120% motor threshold, 40 trains, 1600 pulses) followed by sham inhibition at right DLPFC (1Hz, 10 trains, 1200 pulses); after a 1.5-hour inter-session interval, a sham session would be administered at left and right DLPFC (L't active-R't sham-1.5 hr-L't sham-R't sham. The course would be applied five days a week, and two weeks in total.

HAM-D 17 is a scale rating the severity of depression, covering emotional, cognitive and somatic symptoms of depression. Higher scores indicate higher severity. Response to treatment is defined as ≥ 50% decrease in HAM-D 17; remission is defined as ≤ 7 points in HAM-D 17.

HAM-A is a scale rating the severity of anxiety, covering emotional, cognitive and somatic symptoms of anxiety. Higher scores indicate higher severity.

Task 1 (word phase) requests a subject to say a color name string (red, green, blue) printed in black; Task 2 (color phase) requests a subject to say the printed colors (red, green, blue) of letter "x" string; Task 3 (interference phase) requests a subject to say the printed colors of a string of color names (red, green, blue).

Task 1 requests a subject to connect a sequence of 25 consecutive numbers regardless of their colors; Task 2 requires a subject to connect 25 consecutive numbers in alternative colors.

This test requests a subject to speak as many names of vegetables, fishes or fruit as possible in 45 seconds.

ProComp5 Infiniti (SA7525) Biofeedback System would be used. Heart rate variability, skin conductance, body temperature and respiratory rate would be measured.

Inclusion Criteria: age between 60-85 years literate and received basic education for at least 2 years diagnosis of major depressive disorder, without psychotic features, according to DSM-5 have a score of 20 or greater on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale failed to achieve clinical response by at least 1 antidepressant trial of sufficient dosage for at least 4 weeks psychoactive agents were in stable doses before randomization Exclusion Criteria: active suicide plans or attempts; or suicide attempts in the last 12 months diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder according to DSM-5 have DSM-5-confirmed substance use disorder (excluding tobacco) in the last 3 months have delirium, major neurocognitive disorder or MMSE < 24 current use of bupropion >300 mg/day, tricyclic antidepressant, clozapine, chlorpromazine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, ritonavir, theophylline or anti-epileptic agents excluding benzodiazepines history of severe head trauma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain tumors, intracranial aneurysm, active intracranial infection, increased intracranial pressure, metallic implants in the brain, major brain surgery or major neurological diseases with a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator received rTMS treatment before