Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Winter;22(1):75-84.
doi: 10.1176/jnp.2010.22.1.75.

Subgenual cingulate theta activity predicts treatment response of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in participants with vascular depression

Kenji Narushima  1 , Laurie M McCormick, Thoru Yamada, Robert W Thatcher, Robert G Robinson
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Subgenual cingulate theta activity predicts treatment response of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in participants with vascular depression

Kenji Narushima et al. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010 Winter.

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for depression. Increased metabolism in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a known predictor for antidepressant response. The authors assessed whether increased theta power within the ACC predicts rTMS response in participants with vascular depression. Sixty-five participants were randomized to active or sham rTMS. Outcome was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Electroencephalography was obtained, and comparisons were made among each group with a normative database using low-resolution electromagnetic tomography. Results suggest that vascular depression participants respond well to rTMS and that increased low-theta power in the subgenual ACC predicts response to rTMS.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow Chart of Inclusion of Subjects into Active Versus Sham rTMS Groups
Figure 2
Figure 2. Z Scores of Lw-theta Pwer (4–5 Hz) in Pre-rTMS Responders versus Non-Responders with LORETA
(A) A whole brain analysis of pretreatment data for rTMS responders (n=14) normalized against a standardized age-adjusted normative database within NeuroGuide (i.e., Z scores) revealed significantly higher than normal Z scores in low-theta power (4–5 Hz) within the subgenual ACC (BA25). Only the BA25 voxels which had significantly increased low-theta power are shown in red color. (B) A similar analysis of pretreatment data for rTMS non-responders (n=18) revealed no higher or lower theta activity or statistically significant Z scores before rTMS.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Pretreatment Low Theta Power in the Subgenual ACC
Scatterplot showing pretreatment low-theta power in the subgenual ACC among the three groups revealed a significant difference in low-theta power between those who responded versus those who did not respond to active rTMS prior to rTMS (F=4.18, df=1, 30, p=0.04; comparison between the active two groups).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Correlation Between Subgenual ACC Low Theta Power Percent Change and HAM-D Percent Change
Scatterplot demonstrating that there is a significant and positiv ve correlation between % changes in low-theta power in the subgenual ACC and total HAM-D among participants with active rTMS (Spearman ρ=0.45, p<0.01). HAM-D=Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; ACC=anterior cingulate cortex
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Barker AT, Jalinous R, Freeston IL. Non-invasive magnetic stimulation of human motor cortex. Lancet. 1985;1:1106–1107. - PubMed
    1. Pascual-Leone A, Rubio B, Pallardo F, et al. Rapid-rate transcranial magnetic stimulation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in drug-resistant depression. Lancet. 1996;348:233–237. - PubMed
    1. Brunelin J, Poulet E, Boeuve C, et al. [Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in major depression: a review]. Encephale. 2007;33:126–134. (French) - PubMed
    1. Alexopoulos GS, Meyers BS, Young RC, et al. “Vascular depression” hypothesis. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1997;54:915–922. - PubMed
    1. Krishnan KR, Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, et al. Clinical characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging-defined subcortical ischemic depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2004;55:390–397. - PubMed

Publication types