rTMS proves less effective than hoped for.
Several reports have suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) might be as effective for severe depression as electroconvulsive therapy — and might even have several advantages. In a multicenter, randomized trial in Great Britain, 46 severely depressed patients who were referred for ECT and who met study criteria were randomized to 15 sessions of daily rTMS or twice-weekly ECT, which was given until response was seen (mean, 6 sessions).
In intent-to-treat analyses, end-of-treatment outcomes showed a strong standardized effect size (1.44) for ECT, but not for rTMS. Remission occurred in 59% of ECT recipients and 17% of rTMS recipients (mean improvement on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [Ham-D], 14.1 and 5.4 poin…