NCT01452321

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Postpartum Depression

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects on Clinical, Cognitive and Social Performance in Postpartum Depression

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 14 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 36 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Several factors characterize repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a strategic aid in the treatment of postpartum depression. However, up to current days there have been no studies evaluating the effects of rTMS on neurocognitive and social performance of women suffering from the disorder. The present study evaluates the impacts of rTMS in clinical, cognitive and social performance.

Detailed description

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive technique that can influence specific areas of the brain and has very few side effects. The treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation requires attendance to hospital daily sessions for 4 consecutive weeks. Each session lasts up to 30 minutes. Side effects include scalp discomfort and mild headache. No anesthesia is required. Stimulation aims the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region previously studied to treat depression symptoms with positive results. The present technique has never been employed in previous studies, but risks are insignificant.

Conditions

• Depression, Postpartum

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)	20 daily sessions: each with 25 trains of 10 seconds at 5Hz, with a 20 second inter-train interval, at an intensity of 120% of motor threshold. Site: Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

Timeline

• Start date: 2007-08-01
• Primary completion: 2008-07-01
• Completion: 2009-09-01
• First posted: 2011-10-14
• Last updated: 2011-10-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil