Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced seizure of a patient with adolescent-onset depression: a case report and literature review

J Int Med Res. 2011;39(5):2039-44. doi: 10.1177/147323001103900552.

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been used as an investigative and therapeutic tool in neuropsychiatry and is advocated as a therapy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, particularly adult depression. The therapeutic efficacy of current antidepressants applied to children or adolescents is unsatisfactory; thus innovative treatments such as rTMS are in demand. Large-scale clinical studies are required to determine the safety of rTMS for this age group. The present case report describes a 15-year-old female with depression who had seizure and hypomania during the first session of rTMS concomitant to sertraline 100 mg/day orally. The patient continued on this regimen of sertraline therapy but rTMS was not repeated. Subsequent electroencephalogram (EEG) examination detected no abnormalities and no long-term complications were observed. We suggest that rTMS should be used cautiously to treat adolescents with depressive disorders, particularly when used concomitant to antidepressant treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Seizures / etiology*
  • Sertraline / therapeutic use
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Sertraline