Efficacy and Mechanism of rTMS on the Symptoms of Pleasure Deficit in Adolescent Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders among adolescents and is characterized by persistent low mood. According to a global statistical report released by the World Health Organization, about 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression, with the adolescent population being particularly prominent. Epidemiologic surveys in the Chinese region show that the prevalence of depression in adolescents is about 3.0%. The study points out that age is one of the key factors affecting major depression. Pleasure deficit, a reduced capacity for the experience of pleasure or a lack of appropriate emotional responses to rewards and positive stimuli, is a core symptom of depression and is considered a key internal phenotype of the illness. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a treatment for major depressive disorder that delivers a series of equally spaced pulses through repetitive TMS. Studies have shown that rTMS stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can significantly improve symptoms of pleasure deficit. Thus, rTMS may be an effective treatment option for depressed patients with pleasure deficit.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 10-19 years old (both 10 and 19), gender is not limited;
• Meet the criteria for diagnosing MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5);
• First episode or relapse, monophasic or bipolar depressive disorder;
• No history of any form of antidepressant treatment (including medication, physical and psychotherapy) within 2 weeks prior to enrollment;
• Habitual right-handedness;
• Deficit of pleasure scale (DARS) <22 points;
• Score >17 on the 17-item version of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17);
• After fully understanding the safety of rTMS, they were willing to actively cooperate with the treatment and signed an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Complicated with psychotic symptoms;
• Comorbidity with major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder, delirium, neurocognitive disorder, intellectual disability, and other mental disorders caused by other diseases;
• History of primary neurologic disease or brain injury;
• History of electroconvulsive therapy;
• Contraindications to rTMS treatment, including cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulators, artificial metal heart valves, intracranial aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, and other types of metal implants (with the exception of oral supports);(6)History of epilepsy.