Poster Session 04 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology
Final Abstract #73
Adverse Past and the rTMS Outcomes: Effect of Traumatic Life Experiences on the Treatment for Depression
Tanvi Tomar, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Nicole Walker, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto,, United States
Michelle Madore, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, United States
Category: Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation
Keyword 1: depression
Keyword 2: treatment outcome
Objective:
A history of adverse events often leads to increased rates of depression and poorer treatment outcomes. There is strong evidence for the effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for depression, but less is known about how adverse events impact the treatment outcomes. The present study examines this relationship and hypothesizes that the history of adverse events will have an effect on the rTMS treatment outcomes for depression.
Participants and Methods:
Participants involved 1021 veterans that had completed the course of rTMS treatment and who had MDD symptoms as determined by the cutoff scores on the 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9; PHQ-9 scores> 5). All participants were given the PHQ-9 and PTSD symptom checklist for DSM-V (PCL-5) at the baseline and again after the treatment. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the total number of trauma events (PCL-5 items) and the change in the PHQ-9 outcomes post the rTMS treatment.
Results:
The primary analysis was not significant in predicting the relationship between the total traumas and the PHQ-9 endpoint. Post-hoc analysis revealed a weak but significant (R= 0.73) effect of the total number of traumas in predicting the change in the depression outcomes. Additionally a weak but significant (R= 0.107) positive correlation was also found between the gender assigned at birth and the total number of traumas, in predicting the depression outcomes. Indicating that the females had more reported experience with trauma which is correlated with depression outcome after the treatment.
Conclusions:
The study hypothesized the relationship between the history of adverse experience (total number of trauma from the PCL-5 checklist) and rTMS treatment for depression. The significant findings support the rTMS efficiency against the treatment-resistant depression. Furthermore, the presence of weak positive correlation can be indicative of how experiences of adverse life events might have an impact on the treatment outcomes for depression among veterans and the population in general. However, this argument requires more advanced studies to explore the different factors associated with depression and its treatment outcomes, For instance, gender as a mediating factor, along with the relative impact of how adverse experiences shape an individual and influence the neural connections therefore, impacting the treatment efficacy. This would eventually help in determining the course of specific interventions that would be best suited for the individual.
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