Project Summary

Guohua Xia, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of the University of California, Davis, proposes studying the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulus (rTMS) to treat bipolar disorder. rTMS is a noninvasive technology that stimulates the brain by rapidly changing its magnetic field by putting a coil placed on the scalp. Research shows rTMS provides an antidepressant effect in the treatment of major depression. Several case reports also have indicated rTMS would benefit bipolar depression patients. In practice, many bipolar patients do not respond to the first-line treatment—medication. As an alternative, doctors give electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which produces the quickest response, but may cause severe side effects. As rTMS has shown antidepressant effects comparable to ECT in major depression with no significant cognitive side effects, it deserves further study as a more preferable treatment of bipolar depression. Based on published studies, Dr. Xia hypothesizes that rTMS on the left dorsal prefrontal lobe will improve bipolar depression significantly and cause fewer side effects. Candidate outpatient patients with bipolar depression will be recruited after signing informed consent. Fifteen selected patients will first taper off their current bipolar medication, change to risperidone for a 2-week period, followed by 3 weeks of rTMS treatment and follow-up at 2 weeks. Mood and other observed mental status will be measured by standard psychological scales.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

Search Again