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Objective:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using an H1 coil as a treatment for hopelessness in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary psychiatric institution in Croatia, involving patients diagnosed with MDD without psychotic symptoms and exhibiting clinically significant hopelessness. High-frequency (18 Hz) rTMS with an H1 coil was administered over a four-week period, targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Changes in Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) scores were examined.
Results:
Fifty-one participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (rTMS plus standard therapy), and 52 to the control group (standard therapy). The mean (SD) ages were 50 (12.3) and 50 (10.4) years, with 47% and 52% females in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Following treatment, BHS scores decreased (unadjusted bivariate analysis, p = 0.043; false discovery rate (FDR) >5%). Multivariate analysis indicated a 10.8% reduction in BHS scores (95% confidence interval (CI: −17.8% to −3.9%) in the rTMS group and a 0.7% reduction (95% CI: 7.5% −6.1%) in the control group (p = 0.037; FDR < 5%).
Conclusions:
The use of rTMS with an H1 coil demonstrated improvement in hopelessness symptoms among patients with MDD.
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