79 Failure to Do Maintenance Therapy After Completion of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment Is a Cause of Relapse of Depression in MDD Patient

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this case report is to provide information regarding the importance and effectiveness of monthly maintenance therapy (if required) after completing full course of 36 TMS (Transcranial magnetic stimulation) sessions. (Most patients do not require the maintenance after full course of treatment.)

This is the first study to evaluate the cause of relapse of depression after TMS treatment can be due to failure to do maintenance therapy, no related studies are found in the literature.

Method

The participant is a 57-year-old female with chronic history of treatment resistant MDD since her teenage years. She has been treated 3 times with full course of TMS treatment in 2 years with excellent results, and she went in remission from depression after every treatment. However, due to lack of her attendance for maintenance therapy, despite suggestions by the psychiatrist, her depression relapsed each time within 2–3 months. She was unable to follow-up with maintenance therapy due to her financial situation and lack of coverage of maintenance therapy cost through insurance.

Result

Patient was monitored from initiation of therapy each day until end with clinical rating scale PHQ9& GAD7 for depression & anxiety (in all 3 therapies in 2 years). Marked improvement was observed in her symptoms as shown with range during 3 therapies in the chart below. During each therapy, her remission started anytime from10th-14th treatment and after completion of treatment, she was in remission, fully functional & back to normal life.

Clinical rating    Baseline score in 3    Outcome score in

                           therapies (Before       3 therapies (End

                           TMS treatment of      36 TMS)

PHQ-9                Range: 18-26             Range: 5-9

GAD-7               Range: 14-21             Range: 6-7

Conclusion

Regardless of the limitations of the study (such as case study on one patient), our findings highly suggest that lack of maintenance therapy when needed after completing TMS treatment with full remission may be a cause of relapse of depression in MDD patients. Following through with proper maintenance therapy will prevent relapse of MDD and may have lead to more successful outcomes in subsequent patients. Randomized clinical trial is warranted on large patient population for further evaluation.