Psychometric network analysis of depression symptoms after a course of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression

Patients and methods: 12 patients diagnosed with intractable Chronic Cluster Headache, aged from 24 to 60 years, were enrolled in a prospective open study.4 out of 11 failed occipital nerve stimulation(ONS).One patient received ONS 12 months after hypothalamic DBS.A single electrode was laid on the floor of the third ventricle.The number of attacks was collected at baseline and at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively, then at long term (9-113 months).Besides physical and laboratory monitoring, patients' mood was regularly assessed.Results: This study reports the long term efficacy of third ventricle stimulation in reducing the number of headache attacks: 3/11 patients are pain free or have >80% improvement, 5/11 have >50% improvement, 2/11 show lesser improvement, while 2/11have no significant improvement.Anxiety and Depression scores are also significantly ameliorated.No severe adverse events have been reported so far.Conclusion: This technic could be a surgical alernative when all technics have failed to treat rCH .It has shown efficacy, although it appears to progressively dampen its impact in some patients.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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