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. 2021 May 6;21(4):1–232.

Table 31:

Patients’ and Psychiatrists’ Knowledge of rTMS

Author, Year N Measurement Method Results
Walter et al, 2001175 48 patients Questionnaire

  • 67% correctly stated that rTMS has been used in psychiatry for < 20 years

  • What do you think rTMS is?

    • ○ Treatment in which a magnetic field is used 43 (90%)

    • ○ Did not know 4 (8%)

    • ○ Form of brainwashing 1 (2%)

  • What are common indications for rTMS?

    • ○ Depression 47 (98%)

    • ○ Schizophrenia 10 (21%)

    • ○ Mania 8 (17%)

    • ○ Other disorders 4 (8%)
AlHadi et al, 2017176 96 psychiatrists Questionnairea

  • rTMS is used to control violent patients (F) 75%

  • By using rTMS, we can stimulate certain areas of the brain (T) 93%

  • rTMS causes moderate to severe pain (F) 84%

  • rTMS can cause death (F) 83%

  • rTMS has shown significant results in drug-resistant depression (T) 58%

  • rTMS is an FDA-approved method to treat schizophrenia (F) 59%

  • rTMS is contraindicated in patients with intracranial implanted metallic objects (T) 47%

  • rTMS is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy (F) 77%

  • rTMS requires hospital admission (F) 79%

  • rTMS is an outdated therapy (F) 77%

  • rTMS can be administered only [with the patient] under general anesthesia (F) 77%

  • rTMS can be conducted without a muscle relaxant (T) 79%

  • rTMS can be used for patients [older than 65 years of age] (T) 59%

  • rTMS can cause permanent brain damage (F) 84%

  • Recommended number of sessions is 2 or 3 per week (F) 17%

  • rTMS is used more often in Saudi Arabia than in the United States (F) 81%

  • rTMS was used for the first time in the 1990s (T) 18%

  • rTMS was introduced to clinical practice before ECT (F) 79%

  • rTMS is more effective than ECT in treating depression (F) 53%

  • rTMS is considered safer than ECT (T) 73%

  • rTMS is used in psychiatric hospitals only (F) 70%
Bourla et al, 2020177 475 psychiatrists Questionnaire

  • What is your level of knowledge about rTMS?

    • ○ 2.31% never heard about rTMS

    • ○ 23.32% use rTMS in their practice

  • What is your level of training in neurostimulation?

    • ○ 28% received practical training for rTMS

    • ○ 54% received theoretical training in rTMS

  • At what stage of therapeutic escalation is rTMS indicated for depressive disorder?

    • ○ After failure of a second-line AD 33%

    • ○ After failure of a third-line AD 21%

    • ○ “I don't know” 14%

    • ○ After failure of a first-line AD 13%

    • ○ In case of psychotic features 7%

    • ○ After failure of ECT 5%

    • ○ First intention 5%

    • ○ rTMS has no place in this context 3%

  • How many sessions of rTMS are required to “cure” a depressive disorder?

    • ○ “Did not know” 37%

    • ○ 10–20 sessions 53%

    • ○ 30 sessions 9%

    • ○ 40 sessions 1%

  • How many contraindications of rTMS exist?

    • ○ “Few” contraindications 79.41%

    • ○ “Many” or “very many” contraindications 2.73%

  • What are the side effects of rTMS?

    • ○ Headaches, 73.1%

    • ○ Epileptic seizures 32.8%

    • ○ Paresthesia 30.5%

    • ○ Manic episode, 23.4%

    • ○ “I don't know” 18.9%

    • ○ Mnesic [memory] alteration 17.9%

    • ○ Hearing loss 6.9%

Abbreviations: AD, antidepressant; ECT, electroconvulsive therapy; F, false; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; rTMS, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; T, true.

a

All knowledge statements were either true or false; percentage of people who answered correctly is shown.