Rostral anterior cingulate cortex is a structural correlate of repetitive TMS treatment response in depression

Publication date: Available online 31 January 2018
Source:Brain Stimulation
Author(s): Aaron D. Boes, Brandt Uitermarkt, Fatimah Albazron, Martin J. Lan, Conor Liston, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Marc J. Dubin, Michael D. Fox
BackgroundRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective treatment for medication-refractory major depression, yet the mechanisms of action for this intervention are poorly understood. Here we investigate cerebral cortex thickness as a possible biomarker of rTMS treatment response.MethodsLongitudinal change in cortical thickness is evaluated relative to clinical outcomes across 48 participants in 2 cohorts undergoing left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex rTMS as a treatment for depression.ResultsOur results reveal changes in thickness in a region of the left rostral anterior cingulate cortex that correlate with clinical response, with this region becoming thicker in patients who respond favorably to rTMS and thinner in patients with a less favorable response. Moreover, the baseline cortical thickness in this region correlates with rTMS treatment response – those patients with thinner cortex before treatment tended to have the most clinical improvement.ConclusionsThis study is the first analysis of longitudinal cortical thickness change with rTMS as a treatment for depression with similar results across two cohorts. These results support further investigation into the use of structural MRI as a possible biomarker of rTMS treatment response.



http://ift.tt/2EsVyDV