EEG-Triggered rTMS and Group Therapy for Adolescents With Depression and Self-Harm

Adolescent depression is a prevalent and severe mood disorder, often comorbid with self-harm behavior, significantly impairing functioning. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique showing promise in depression treatment. Real-time EEG-triggered rTMS (rEEG-TMS) further refines this by synchronizing stimulation with individual neural rhythms, potentially enhancing precision and efficacy. Psychosocial interventions, such as group therapy, are crucial for adolescent mood disorders, offering peer support, emotional regulation skills, and cognitive restructuring. This study investigates whether combining rEEG-TMS with group therapy offers synergistic benefits over rEEG-TMS alone in adolescents with depression and self-harm.

This was a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 160 inpatients aged 12-18 years with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (ICD-10 F32) and documented self-harm behavior within 2 weeks prior to enrollment were recruited. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either receive real-time EEG-triggered rTMS alone (control group, n=80) or real-time EEG-triggered rTMS plus group therapy (observation group, n=80). The rTMS intervention consisted of 20 sessions over 4 weeks (5 sessions/week), targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 10 Hz, 110% of resting motor threshold, with 2000 pulses per session, triggered by the peak of the participant's ongoing θ-wave activity. The group therapy intervention, for the observation group, consisted of 8 semi-closed sessions (2 sessions/week for 4 weeks, 90 minutes/session) covering emotional recognition, cognitive restructuring, impulse control, and self-esteem building. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 4 weeks post-intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 12-18 years;
• Diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10 F32);
• Documented self-harm behavior within 2 weeks prior to enrollment (defined as deliberate self-injury without suicidal intent, e.g., cutting, burning);
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) score ≥17 at baseline;
• Ability to complete self-report measures and participate in group therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Comorbid psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder;
• History of neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury);
• Current use of electroconvulsive therapy;
• Refusal to provide informed consent.