The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 193: 152-155. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.044362
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Quick recovery of orientation after magnetic seizure therapy for major depressive disorder

George Kirov, MRCPsych, PhD

Cardiff University, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff

Klaus P. Ebmeier, MD, FRCPsych

University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, and Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Allan I. F. Scott, MB ChB, MBS, MRCPsych, MD

Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Maria Atkins, MB BS, MRCPsych and Najeeb Khalid, MCPS

Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Cardiff

Lucy Carrick, MB ChB, MBA, MRCPsych and Andrew Stanfield, MB ChB, MRCPsych

Andrew Duncan Clinic, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh

Ronan E. O’Carroll, BSc (Hons), MPhil

University of Stirling Department of Psychology, Stirling

Mustafa M. Husain, MD

Neurostimulation Research Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas, USA

Sarah H. Lisanby, BS, MD

Division of Brain Stimulation and Therapeutic Modulation, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA

Correspondence: Professor Klaus P. Ebmeier, University of Oxford, Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. Email: klaus.ebmeier{at}psych.ox.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background

Magnetic seizure therapy, in which seizures are elicited with a high-frequency magnetic field, is under development as a new treatment for major depressive disorder. Its use may be justified if it produces the antidepressant effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), coupled with limited cognitive side-effects.

Aims

To evaluate the usefulness of a new 100 Hz magnetic seizure therapy device.

Method

We induced seizures with 100 Hz magnetic transcranial stimulation in 11 patients with major depressive disorder during one session of a regular course of ECT. Recovery times after seizures induced by magnetic seizure therapy and ECT were compared.

Results

Seizures could be elicited in 10 of the 11 patients. Stimulation over the vertex produced tonic–clonic activity on 9 out of 11 occasions. Stimulation over the prefrontal midpoint elicited seizures on 3 out of 7 occasions.

The mean duration of magnetically induced seizures was 31.3 s, ranging from 10 to 86 s. All patients had an exceptionally quick recovery of orientation: mean of 7 min 12 s (s.d.=2 min 7 s, range 4 min 20 s to 9 min 41 s). The recovery times were on average 15 min 35 s shorter with magnetic seizure therapy than with ECT in the same patients (paired-samples t-test: P<0.0001). Patients reported feeling less confused after magnetic seizure therapy. Side-effects were confined to myoclonic movements, associated with the use of etomidate.

Conclusions

The new 100 Hz magnetic stimulator elicits seizures in the majority of patients when administered over the vertex. Magnetic seizure therapy was associated with shorter recovery times and less confusion following treatment. Subsequent work will be required to assess the safety and effectiveness of magnetic seizure therapy in the treatment of depression.


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