Galletly, C.Gill, S.Clarke, P.Burton, C.Fitzgerald, P.2012-06-252012-06-252012Psychological Medicine, 2012; 42(5):981-9881469-89781469-8978http://hdl.handle.net/2440/71825Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. However, there has been little research to determine optimal parameters for treatment. Method: This study compared two rTMS treatment regimes for the treatment of major depression. Seventy-seven participants were randomized to either spaced or daily treatment. Spaced rTMS was given 3 days/week for 6 weeks (18 treatments in total) and daily rTMS was given 5 days/week for 4 weeks (20 treatments in total). All participants were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. Participants in the spaced treatment group were also assessed after 6 weeks of treatment. All participants were treated at 110% of the resting motor threshold with high-frequency rTMS (10 Hz) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) followed by low-frequency rTMS to the right DLPFC. Results: Participants in the daily treatment group showed more improvement by week 4 than those in the spaced treatment group; however, both groups had similar improvement by treatment completion. There was significant improvement in both groups in ratings of depression and anxiety, with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the efficacy of rTMS is related to the number of treatments given and that spacing the treatments neither improves nor reduces efficacy.enCopyright © Cambridge University Press 2011Antidepressantdorsolateral prefrontal cortexhigh-frequency stimulationneurostimulationtreatment serviceJournal article002011697310.1017/S00332917110017600003023798000092-s2.0-8485925011325672Galletly, C. [0000-0001-6185-9677]Gill, S. [0000-0001-7180-1807]