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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
Predictive value of dorso-lateral prefrontal connectivity for rTMS response in treatment-resistant depression: A
Raphaëlle Richieri1, Antoine Verger2, Laurent Boyer3
1Department of Psychiatry, La Conception University Hospital, 13005 Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Univ, EA 3279 - Self-perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, 13005 Marseille, France; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Background:
Previous clinical trials have suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has a significant antidepressant effect in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). However, results remain heterogeneous with many patients without effective response.
Objective:
The aim of this SPECT study was to determine before treatment the predictive value of the connectivity of the stimulated area on further rTMS response in patients with TRD.
Methods:
Fifty-eight TRD patients performed a brain perfusion SPECT before high frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). A voxel based-analysis was achieved to compare connectivity of the left DLPFC in responders and non-responders using inter-regional correlations (p < 0.005, corrected for cluster volume). A multiple logistic regression model was thereafter used with the goal of establishing a predictive score.
Results:
Before rTMS, responders exhibited increased SPECT connectivity between the left DLPFC and the right cerebellum in comparison to non-responders, independently of age, gender, severity of depression, and severity of treatment resistance. The area under the curve for the combination of these two SPECT clusters to predict rTMS response was 0.756 (p < 0.005).
Conclusions:
SPECT connectivity of the left DLPFC predicts rTMS response before treatment.
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