The study of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on social functioning in patients with Major depression Disorder who drug Resistant

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rTMS on social functioning in patients with major depression disorder who are drug resistant.Method: Twelve Patients with major depression disorder in a quasi-experimental one group time-series design were treated with 30 sessions of 20-Hz rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC). All the patients were assessed with Social Adaptation Self Evaluation (SASS) before and after rTMS and 1.5 months after treatment.Results: The results showed a significant improvement of patients in SASS (p< 0.001) and these effects lasted 1.5 months after rTMS.Conclusion: rTMS can affect social functioning in patients with major depression disorder and probably these effects are associated with Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis.