The Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Attention and Short-Term Memory in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Volume 10, Issue 2, Spring 2025, Pages 667-673
https://doi.org/10.30491/hpr.2025.514050.1486
Marzieh Hatami, Afshin Ataeiyan
Abstract Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) often presents with cognitive deficits, including impairments in attention and short-term memory, which can significantly impact patients' quality of life.
Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on attention and short-term memory in patients with MDD.
Methods: This study adopted a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design, conducted in Yazd, Iran, during 2023. A convenience sample of thirty patients, aged 20-50 years, diagnosed with MDD, was recruited and subsequently randomized into either an intervention or a control group (n=15 per group). All participants received antidepressant medication (SSRI); however, the intervention group also underwent ten sessions of 5Hz rTMS at an intensity of 120% of the motor threshold, targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), while the control group received sham rTMS. Cognitive function, specifically attention and short-term memory, was evaluated using the Wechsler Memory Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-27, with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) employed to assess treatment effects.
Results: Participants in the study included 30 individuals with MDD (male and female), with a mean age of 43.65 ± 6.49 years. The findings indicated that rTMS yielded statistically significant changes in attentional and short-term memory performance among these patients (P<0.01). This outcome demonstrates a beneficial impact of rTMS on cognitive domains affected by MDD, providing empirical evidence for its potential therapeutic role.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that rTMS targeting the DLPFC significantly enhances attention and short-term memory in MDD patients. Consequently, these results suggest rTMS as a valuable adjunctive therapy for mitigating cognitive deficits associated with MDD through its neuromodulatory effects, offering a potential strategy to improve patients' daily functioning and overall quality of life.