Section - CAP Smart Takes

02. Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Promising Treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Adolescents

Published on June 1, 2024 Certification expiration date: June 1, 2027

David R. Rosenberg, M.D.

Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience - Wayne State University School of Medicine

Key Points

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment for adolescents with treatment-resistant depression.
Clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms can be seen after 10 sessions.
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation may lead to a faster treatment response compared with traditional antidepressant medication in treatment-resistant adolescents with depression.

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Hi! David Rosenberg here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. In this CAP—or Child and Adolescent Psychiatry—Smart Take, we will closely examine the use of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents. This remains a huge area, as one-third of depressed adolescents do not respond to any currently available treatment, underscoring the urgency and need to identify alternative and novel treatments for treatment-resistant adolescents with depression. As you all know, adolescents with depression—whether or not it is treatment resistant—are already at highly increased risk for suicidal behaviors and suicidality, emphasizing how critical it is to identify novel and alternative treatments.

TMS is an intervention that has been garnering a lot of interest. It has been used in treatment-resistant depression in adults and adolescents with some success. It is relatively noninvasive and targets specific brain regions implicated in depression. Given the high rate of treatment-resistant depression in adolescents, this is

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03. Cardiac and Metabolic Safety Profile of Antipsychotics in Youth

Learning Objectives:

Recognize that long-term methylphenidate treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD may possibly improve sleep.
Recognize the potential of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation as a novel treatment for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents.
Recognize that, in adolescents, aripiprazole use may be associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Appreciate the importance of accurate diagnosis of primary conditions and comorbidities in achieving therapeutic efficacy and treatment response in youth with insomnia.
Understand the role of antipsychotic treatment, particularly second-generation antipsychotics, in managing early-onset schizophrenia.

Original Release Date: June 1, 2024

Expiration Date: June 1, 2027

Experts: David Rosenberg, M.D.

Medical Editor: Lorena Rodriguez, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

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This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.