Rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation and normalization of the dexamethasone suppression test

Abstract

Non-suppression of post-dexamethasone cortisol is a feature of endogenous/melancholic depression. Normalization of the dexamethasone suppresion test (DST) response is a feature of remission and antidepressant treatment. Twelve consecutive depressed non-suppressers were treated with rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Six demonstrated normalization and good clinical improvement which was sustained for at least 1 month. Thus, rTMS has some biological effects in common with other antidepressant treatments.