Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on clinical, social, and cognitive performance in postpartum depression

Martin Luiz Myczkowski,¹ Álvaro Machado Dias,^1,2 Tatiana Luvisotto,¹ Debora Arnaut,¹ Bianca Boura Bellini,¹ Carlos Gustavo Mansur,¹ Joel Rennó,¹ Gabriel Tortella,¹ Philip Leite Ribeiro,¹ Marco Antônio Marcolin<sup>1

1</sup>Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Medical School São Paulo, ²Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory of the Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Background: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study evaluated the impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on clinical, cognitive, and social performance in women suffering with postpartum depression.
Methods: Fourteen patients were randomized to receive 20 sessions of sham rTMS or active 5 Hz rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Psychiatric clinical scales and a neuropsychological battery were applied at baseline (pretreatment), week 4 (end of treatment), and week 6 (follow-up, posttreatment week 2).
Results: The active rTMS group showed significant improvement 2 weeks after the end of rTMS treatment (week 6) in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (P = 0.020), Global Assessment Scale (P = 0.037), Clinical Global Impression (P = 0.047), and Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report-Work at Home (P = 0.020).
Conclusion: This study suggests that rTMS has the potential to improve the clinical condition in postpartum depression, while producing marginal gains in social and cognitive function.

Keywords: transcranial magnetic stimulation, postpartum depression, clinical performance, cognitive performance, social performance