Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
Sleep deprivation in depression stabilizing antidepressant effects by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
P Eichhammer1, A Kharraz, R Wiegand
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Germany. peter.eichhammer@bzk.uni-regensburg.de
Abstract:
Partial sleep deprivation (PSD) has a profound and rapid effect on depressed mood. However, the transient antidepressant effect of PSD - most patients relapse after one night of recovery sleep - is limiting the clinical use of this method. Using a controlled, balanced parallel design we studied, whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied in the morning after PSD is able to prevent this relapse. 20 PSD responders were randomly assigned to receive either active or sham stimulation during the following 4 days after PSD. Active stimulation prolonged significantly (p < 0.001) the antidepressant effect of PSD up to 4 days. This finding indicates that rTMS is an efficacious method to prevent relapse after PSD.
