Journal: Journal of Psychiatric Research (2024)
Authors: Li K, Qian L, Zhang C, Li R, Zeng J, Xue C, Deng W.
Background:
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is designed to stimulate broader and deeper brain regions than conventional TMS. While dTMS had emerged as a promising option for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), high-quality evidence on its efficacy and safety in treatment-resistant OCD remained limited.
Objective:
This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of dTMS for treatment-resistant OCD by pooling evidence from randomized controlled trials.
Methods:
The authors searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through February 2024 and identified four randomized controlled trials including 252 patients with treatment-resistant OCD. A fixed-effects meta-analysis was used to compare response and dropout rates between active and sham dTMS, with response primarily based on Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) outcomes.
Results:
Across the four trials, active dTMS produced significantly higher response rates than sham both at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up. The pooled response effect after treatment was RR = 3.71 (95% CI 2.06-6.69), and the benefit remained significant at one month (RR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.59-4.26). Subgroup analysis suggested that H-coil stimulation was superior to sham, and no serious adverse events were reported in the included studies.
Conclusions:
The findings support dTMS as an effective and generally well-tolerated intervention for treatment-resistant OCD, with benefits that appear to persist for at least one month after treatment.
Full Publication: Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials – PubMed
