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In an occasional column, Journal Watch Psychiatry editors briefly comment on review articles. These annotations were written by Barbara Geller, MD, Jonathan Silver, MD, and Joel Yager, MD.
TMS for conversion symptoms. In a review of the literature on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment of conversion disorders,1 the authors identified only eight studies (95 patients with weakness or movement disorder). None of the studies were placebo-controlled; all were heterogeneous regarding quality and parameters used (pulse, frequency, intensity, and target); and most used subjective clinician judgment as outcome. Most studies showed success. The authors discuss several possible mechanisms: neuromodulation, a placebo/nonspecific effec…