In a nutshell
This study investigated the effect of non-medication treatments for depression in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves depression in these patients.
Some background
Parkinson's disease (PD) affects brain cells. These cells are responsible for body movement and function. In patients with PD, brain cells lose their abilities causing physical and mental symptoms such as depression. Combining anti-depressants with anti-PD medication is considered the best therapy for these patients. However, at the expense of a high rate of side effects. Therefore, further studies to discover new treatment options are necessary.
Different non-medication treatments such as rTMS have been shown to be associated with improved results. RTMS consists of using a magnet to activate certain areas of the brain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has also been shown to have positive effects on depression in patients with PD. CBT is a type of talking therapy that can help manage problems by changing the way of thinking and acting. However, these studies had limitations and therefore the effectiveness of these methods is not clear.
Methods & findings
This study reviewed 15 other studies including information about patients with PD and depression. Of these, 12 studies reported on rTMS and 3 on CBT.
Both rTMS and CBT significantly improved depression in the short term. However, the effects of these therapies in the long-term were still inconclusive. RTMS also improved physical symptoms, with fewer side effects.
The bottom line
This study concluded that rTMS and CBT improve depression and physical symptoms in patients with PD at least for a short period.
The fine print
This study was based on medical records. Some information might have been incomplete. Also, the studies analyzed included a limited number of participants. This might affect the results.
Published By :
The International journal of neuroscience
Date :
Apr 07, 2020
