Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

Lucy Gallop; Samuel J. Westwood; Amelia Hemmings; Yael Lewis; Iain C. Campbell; Ulrike Schmidt

doi:10.1007/s00787-024-02475-x

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

Lucy Gallop^*, Samuel J. Westwood, Amelia Hemmings, Yael Lewis, Iain C. Campbell, Ulrike Schmidt

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated benefits in adults with psychiatric disorders, but its clinical utility in children and young people (CYP) is unclear. This PRISMA systematic review used published and ongoing studies to examine the effects of rTMS on disorder-specific symptoms, mood and neurocognition in CYP with psychiatric disorders. We searched Medline via PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO via OVID, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to July 2023. Eligible studies involved multiple-session (i.e., treatment) rTMS in CYP (≤ 25 years-old) with psychiatric disorders. Two independent raters assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data using a custom-built form. Out of 78 eligible studies (participant N = 1389), the majority (k = 54; 69%) reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure of disorder-specific core symptoms. Some studies (k = 21) examined rTMS effects on mood or neurocognition,: findings were largely positive. Overall, rTMS was well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. Of 17 ongoing or recently completed studies, many are sham-controlled RCTs with better blinding techniques and a larger estimated participant enrolment. Findings provide encouraging evidence for rTMS-related improvements in disorder-specific symptoms in CYP with different psychiatric disorders. However, in terms of both mood (for conditions other than depression) and neurocognitive outcomes, evidence is limited. Importantly, rTMS is well-tolerated and safe. Ongoing studies appear to be of improved methodological quality; however, future studies should broaden outcome measures to more comprehensively assess the effects of rTMS and develop guidance on dosage (i.e., treatment regimens).

Original language	English
Journal	European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02475-x
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

Children
Psychiatric disorders
rTMS
Systematic review
Young people

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title = "Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review",

abstract = "Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated benefits in adults with psychiatric disorders, but its clinical utility in children and young people (CYP) is unclear. This PRISMA systematic review used published and ongoing studies to examine the effects of rTMS on disorder-specific symptoms, mood and neurocognition in CYP with psychiatric disorders. We searched Medline via PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO via OVID, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to July 2023. Eligible studies involved multiple-session (i.e., treatment) rTMS in CYP (≤ 25 years-old) with psychiatric disorders. Two independent raters assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data using a custom-built form. Out of 78 eligible studies (participant N = 1389), the majority (k = 54; 69%) reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure of disorder-specific core symptoms. Some studies (k = 21) examined rTMS effects on mood or neurocognition,: findings were largely positive. Overall, rTMS was well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. Of 17 ongoing or recently completed studies, many are sham-controlled RCTs with better blinding techniques and a larger estimated participant enrolment. Findings provide encouraging evidence for rTMS-related improvements in disorder-specific symptoms in CYP with different psychiatric disorders. However, in terms of both mood (for conditions other than depression) and neurocognitive outcomes, evidence is limited. Importantly, rTMS is well-tolerated and safe. Ongoing studies appear to be of improved methodological quality; however, future studies should broaden outcome measures to more comprehensively assess the effects of rTMS and develop guidance on dosage (i.e., treatment regimens).",

keywords = "Children, Psychiatric disorders, rTMS, Systematic review, Young people",

author = "Lucy Gallop and Westwood, {Samuel J.} and Amelia Hemmings and Yael Lewis and Campbell, {Iain C.} and Ulrike Schmidt",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1007/s00787-024-02475-x",

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T1 - Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders

T2 - a systematic review

AU - Gallop, Lucy

AU - Westwood, Samuel J.

AU - Hemmings, Amelia

AU - Lewis, Yael

AU - Campbell, Iain C.

AU - Schmidt, Ulrike

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated benefits in adults with psychiatric disorders, but its clinical utility in children and young people (CYP) is unclear. This PRISMA systematic review used published and ongoing studies to examine the effects of rTMS on disorder-specific symptoms, mood and neurocognition in CYP with psychiatric disorders. We searched Medline via PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO via OVID, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to July 2023. Eligible studies involved multiple-session (i.e., treatment) rTMS in CYP (≤ 25 years-old) with psychiatric disorders. Two independent raters assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data using a custom-built form. Out of 78 eligible studies (participant N = 1389), the majority (k = 54; 69%) reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure of disorder-specific core symptoms. Some studies (k = 21) examined rTMS effects on mood or neurocognition,: findings were largely positive. Overall, rTMS was well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. Of 17 ongoing or recently completed studies, many are sham-controlled RCTs with better blinding techniques and a larger estimated participant enrolment. Findings provide encouraging evidence for rTMS-related improvements in disorder-specific symptoms in CYP with different psychiatric disorders. However, in terms of both mood (for conditions other than depression) and neurocognitive outcomes, evidence is limited. Importantly, rTMS is well-tolerated and safe. Ongoing studies appear to be of improved methodological quality; however, future studies should broaden outcome measures to more comprehensively assess the effects of rTMS and develop guidance on dosage (i.e., treatment regimens).

AB - Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated benefits in adults with psychiatric disorders, but its clinical utility in children and young people (CYP) is unclear. This PRISMA systematic review used published and ongoing studies to examine the effects of rTMS on disorder-specific symptoms, mood and neurocognition in CYP with psychiatric disorders. We searched Medline via PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO via OVID, and Clinicaltrials.gov up to July 2023. Eligible studies involved multiple-session (i.e., treatment) rTMS in CYP (≤ 25 years-old) with psychiatric disorders. Two independent raters assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data using a custom-built form. Out of 78 eligible studies (participant N = 1389), the majority (k = 54; 69%) reported an improvement in at least one outcome measure of disorder-specific core symptoms. Some studies (k = 21) examined rTMS effects on mood or neurocognition,: findings were largely positive. Overall, rTMS was well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. Of 17 ongoing or recently completed studies, many are sham-controlled RCTs with better blinding techniques and a larger estimated participant enrolment. Findings provide encouraging evidence for rTMS-related improvements in disorder-specific symptoms in CYP with different psychiatric disorders. However, in terms of both mood (for conditions other than depression) and neurocognitive outcomes, evidence is limited. Importantly, rTMS is well-tolerated and safe. Ongoing studies appear to be of improved methodological quality; however, future studies should broaden outcome measures to more comprehensively assess the effects of rTMS and develop guidance on dosage (i.e., treatment regimens).

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KW - Psychiatric disorders

KW - rTMS

KW - Systematic review

KW - Young people

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DO - 10.1007/s00787-024-02475-x

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85194750878

SN - 1018-8827

JO - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

JF - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

ER -

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and young people with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

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