1 Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders (No. 13dz2260500), Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China 
2Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China 
3 Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China 

Abstract 

With the ability to modulate cortical activity, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is becoming increasingly important in clinical applications for psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated its promising efficacy in depression and schizophrenia, and emerging evidence has also been found in patients with anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance or food craving. However, the overall literature features some conflicting results, varied quality of studies, and a lack of consensus on optimal rTMS parameters. Besides, the efficacy of rTMS in patients with medication-resistant symptoms has drawn most attention from clinicians. Here we review multi-site studies and double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in single sites, as well as meta-analyses of RCTs in the last three years, in order to update evidence on efficacy and the optimal protocol of rTMS in psychiatric disorders, especially for medication-resistant symptoms.

Keywords

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,Treatment-resistant depression,Schizophrenia,Anxiety disorders,Obsessive compulsive disorder,Substance use disorders

[SpringerLink]