Objective: The aim of this paper is to report the effect of rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the mood and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) of a patient with major depressive disorder (DSM-IV). Clinical picture: A 36-year-old woman with a past history of prolactinoma and recurrent major depressive disorder presented with major depression on three separate occasions over a 3-month period. DST was positive on each occasion. Treatment: During each episode, a course of rTMS was given. Courses varied from seven to 13 once-daily treatment sessions depending on clinical response. These treatment sessions were 20 trains of 10 Hz for 5 s at 100% of motor threshold. Outcome: Remission was achieved, psychiatric rating scales improved and the DST status converted from positive to negative. There were no side effects. Conclusion: DST status in major depressive disorder can be converted from positive to negative by rTMS. This so far unreported observation increases our knowledge of rTMS.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Health Sciences
Research Group:	Health services and systems
Research Field:	Mental health services
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public health (excl. specific population health)
Objective Field:	Mental health
UTAS Author:	Pridmore, S (Professor Saxby Pridmore)
ID Code:	17661
Year Published:	1999
Web of Science® Times Cited:	25
Deposited By:	Psychiatry
Deposited On:	1999-08-01
Last Modified:	2000-05-25
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