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. 2025 Feb;34(2):403-422.
doi: 10.1007/s00787-024-02475-x. Epub 2024 May 29.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

Lucy Gallop  1 , Samuel J Westwood  2   3 , Amelia Hemmings  4 , Yael Lewis  4   5   6 , Iain C Campbell  4 , Ulrike Schmidt  4   7
Affiliations

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

Lucy Gallop et al. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated benefits in adults with psychiatric disorders, but its clinical utility in children and young people (CYP) is unclear. This PRISMA systematic review used published and ongoing studies to examine the effects of rTMS on disorder-specific symptoms, mood and neurocognition in CYP with psychiatric disorders. We searched Medline via PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO via OVID, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to July 2023. Eligible studies involved multiple-session (i.e., treatment) rTMS in CYP (≤ 25 years-old) with psychiatric disorders. Two independent raters assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data using a custom-built form. Out of 78 eligible studies (participant N = 1389), the majority (k = 54; 69%) reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure of disorder-specific core symptoms. Some studies (k = 21) examined rTMS effects on mood or neurocognition,: findings were largely positive. Overall, rTMS was well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. Of 17 ongoing or recently completed studies, many are sham-controlled RCTs with better blinding techniques and a larger estimated participant enrolment. Findings provide encouraging evidence for rTMS-related improvements in disorder-specific symptoms in CYP with different psychiatric disorders. However, in terms of both mood (for conditions other than depression) and neurocognitive outcomes, evidence is limited. Importantly, rTMS is well-tolerated and safe. Ongoing studies appear to be of improved methodological quality; however, future studies should broaden outcome measures to more comprehensively assess the effects of rTMS and develop guidance on dosage (i.e., treatment regimens).

Keywords: Children; Psychiatric disorders; Systematic review; Young people; rTMS.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram of selected studies (n = number of articles). A total of 78 studies were systematically reviewed
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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