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Beta Rhythm Predicts Treatment Response to Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with
Elvan Çiftçi1, Husnu Erkmen1, Emine Bulanik2
1Department of Psychiatry, NPI Brain Hospital, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Clinical EEG and Neuroscience
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Pretreatment beta brain activity in parietal regions may predict deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) effectiveness for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Higher beta power suggests a better response to dTMS therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 1.1-1.8% of the population, with adult females disproportionately affected.
- Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) targets prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex networks implicated in OCD.
- Identifying biomarkers for dTMS treatment response in OCD is crucial for personalized therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a biological marker, specifically beta rhythm oscillations, that correlates with treatment response to dTMS in OCD patients.
- To explore the predictive value of quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) beta activity for dTMS efficacy.
- To investigate the influence of age and sex on dTMS treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 56 treatment-resistant OCD patients (35 female, 21 male) treated with FDA-approved dTMS using an H7-coil.
- Assessment of OCD symptom severity using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) before and after dTMS.
- Quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) was used to measure beta oscillations, analyzed for correlation with Y-BOCS changes, controlling for age and sex.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between the rate of Y-BOCS decline and higher pretreatment beta activity in parietal and occipital regions, after controlling for age and sex.
- Stepwise linear regression identified age (beta = -0.284, p = 0.030) and pretreatment parietal beta power (beta = 0.312, p = 0.018) as significant predictors of Y-BOCS decline rate.
- These findings suggest that baseline beta activity in specific brain regions may predict therapeutic response.
Conclusions:
- Pretreatment beta power in the parietal region, along with age, may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting dTMS treatment response in OCD patients.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and establish their clinical utility.
- This study contributes to the development of personalized treatment strategies for OCD using neurophysiological markers.
