Comparison of the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and cognitive-behavioral therapy on rumination and cognitive impairment in people with depression

Rumination and cognitive impairment in patients with major depression is one of the cognitive risk factors for mood disorders. 

This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and cognitive behavioral therapy on rumination, cognitive impairment in people with depression.

The research method was semi-experimental and pre-test and post-test with a control group with a one-month follow-up. The statistical population of this study consisted of men and women with major depression hospitalized in Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran in 2022. A statistical sample of 39 men and women suffering from major injuries, the study sample was selected by a purposeful method and by a random method (lottery) in three groups: repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation (rTMS) (13 people), cognitive behavioral therapy (13 people) and the control group. (13 people) was replaced. Repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was performed in 12 sessions and cognitive-behavioral therapy was also performed in 12 sessions for the experimental groups and the control group did not receive any training. Beck's economics research tool - second edition (1996), rumination questionnaire of Nolen Hoeksma and Maro (1991), cognitive impairment questionnaire of Broadbent et al. (1982). The data were analyzed using variance analysis with repeated measurements in SPSS software version 26.

The results showed that repeated extracortical magnetic stimulation and cognitive behavioral therapy were effective on rumination and cognitive impairment in people suffering from depression, and there was no significant difference between the effect of these two interventions on rumination and cognitive impairment.

Based on the results, it is possible to use the protocols of repetitive extracortical magnetic stimulation and cognitive behavioral therapy to intervene in rumination and cognitive impairment in people with depression in mental health centers and psychiatric hospitals.