Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation for Depressive Symptoms in Parkinson Disease

Can the ultra-brief intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol provide a time-efficient and effective alternative to standard high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) for treating depressive symptoms in Parkinson disease (PD)?In this randomized clinical trial including 54 patients with PD and depressive symptoms, both iTBS and HF-rTMS produced significant and comparable reductions in depressive symptoms compared with sham stimulation.This study suggests that the ultra-brief iTBS protocol achieved antidepressant efficacy comparable with that of standard HF-rTMS in PD while reducing treatment time, offering a pragmatic and patient-centered advancement for clinical management.

Corresponding Authors: Yu Zhang, PhD (zhangyu06@xinhuamed.com.cn), and Zhenguo Liu, PhD (liuzhenguo@xinhuamed.com.cn), Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Rd, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China, 200092.

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