Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Depressive Disorder and Cognitive Functions (A Review)

Overview

Depression is associated with a certain kind of cognitive deficit. Cognitive deficit in depression is characterized especially by impaired memory, impaired attention, executive functions deficit and diminished verbal fluency.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain technique and turns out as a pottentionally suitable tool for treatment of depression in all sorts of this disorder. In spite of that is necessary to improve our knowledge about optimal parametres of rTMS application and its time frame for maintenance of treatment.

On the top of this, continuation of rTMS effect and safeness of sequel therapy are not explored very well. This study pointed to that comprehensive review of reasonable professional literature, which shows that rTMS is a safe method for treatment of depression, but possibilities in use rTMS in influencing of some characteristics of cognitive functionar is still not very well known and it is important to execute more research work.

Key words:
depression, cognitive function, neuropsychology, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).