High-frequency rTMS in the treatment of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia: a neurophysiological profile of respondents and nonresponders

Abstract

Introduction Depressive symptoms in schizophrenia have a high prevalence – up to 20-60 %, at the different illness stages. Non-pharmacological treatment, namely rTMS, seems like a promising approach that lacks side-effects typical for antidepressants. RTMS is widely applied in the treatment of depression, however the studies within schizophrenia domain are still rather few Objectives The aim was to examine a potential of neurophysiological data for prediction of the effects of rTMS in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia with depressive symptoms Methods 20 male patients with schizophrenia (F20.004, F20.014, F20.414, ICD–10) were examined at the stage of incomplete remission with predominance of prolonged (more than 6 months) treatment resistant depressive symptoms. An examination (clinical and neurophysiological (oddball ERP and EEG) fragments)) was repeated twice - before and after a course of 10 Hz rTMS (left DLPC, 2000 pulses per session, 15 sessions). Results Poor outcome was associated with initially higher coherence in alpha and lower - in beta1 EEG bands. The amplitudes of non-target N100 and mismatch negativity didn’t differ the groups of responders and nonresponders Conclusions The disturbances within brain networks of beta1 and alpha generators merit attention as potential neurophysiological markers with predictive value in rTMS treatment of patients with schizophrenia with depressive symptoms. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• TMS
• schizophrénia
• Depression
• EEG