Enhancing Cognitive Restructuring with Concurrent Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Transdiagnostic...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Emotional dysregulation is a significant public health concern.
• There is a need for novel, transdiagnostic treatments for emotional dysregulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a one-time intervention integrating behavioral skills training with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted with 46 adults diagnosed with at least one DSM-5 disorder.
• Participants received cognitive restructuring (CR) training alongside active rTMS (left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) or sham rTMS.
• Participants practiced emotional regulation techniques in response to autobiographical stressors during the intervention.

Main Results:

• Active rTMS, compared to sham, enhanced emotional regulation as indicated by psychophysiological measures (heart rate variability, regulation duration).
• Participants receiving active rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex reported reduced distress and increased likelihood of using CR.
• The intervention was found to be acceptable, feasible, and associated with few side effects.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneously engaging frontal circuits with cognitive skills training and rTMS appears clinically feasible and well-tolerated.
• This novel therapeutic approach shows promise for treating transdiagnostic emotional dysregulation.
• Larger follow-up studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this intervention.