Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of 3 Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Devices for Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trials.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been employed worldwide for therapy-resistant depression. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a number of therapeutic devices for treating major depressive disorder; however, no studies have examined the differences in efficacy and acceptability among commercially available stimulation devices. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and acceptability of 3 stimulation devices (NeuroStar, MagPro, and Magstim) for depressive disorders.

METHODS:

Our study included 31 randomized sham-controlled trials of high-frequency rTMS included in the network meta-analysis by Brunoni. We calculated the risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals, comparing each device with sham for the endpoints of response rate, remission rate, and all-cause discontinuation. We then analyzed the differences among the devices in effect size for those endpoints.

RESULTS:

After determining the effect sizes for the endpoints, we found no statistically significant subgroup differences in the response rates, all-cause discontinuation, or remission rates among the devices (p = 0.12, p = 0.84, and p = 0.07, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest similar efficacy and acceptability for the 3 stimulation devices. Future studies need to perform head-to-head comparisons of the efficacy and acceptability of the stimulation devices for treating depression using the same stimulation protocols.

• Authors: Yuki Matsuda, Ryuichi Yamazaki, Taro Kishi, Nakao Iwata, Masahiro Shigeta, Shinsuke Kito
• Journal: Neuropsychobiology (Neuropsychobiology) Vol. 81 Issue 1 Pg. 60-68 ( 2022) ISSN: 1423-0224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34320488 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)
• Copyright: © 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Topics

• Depression
• Depressive Disorder, Major (therapy)
• Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Treatment Outcome