Application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Residual Catatonia

Catatonia is a common syndrome among psychiatric patients, diagnosed in 20-43% of cases. Treatment methods for patients with catatonia are limited to the use of benzodiazepines and ECT in the acute period, and the problem of anti-relapse and maintenance therapy remains one of the most difficult. Currently, transcranial magnetic stimulation is a promising approach in the treatment of catatonia. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possibility of using the method of transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain in patients with schizophrenia in remission with residual catatonic symptoms. Material and methods. 50 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and residual catatonic symptoms were examined by clinical and psychometric methods and divided into 2 groups (therapeutic and comparison groups) to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation for 4 weeks. Results. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the DLPFC on the left in patients with residual catatonia TMS turned out to be effective and safe a tendency was revealed to reduce psychomotor impairments that made up the clinical picture before the start of stimulation, along with an improvement in basic cognitive functions. Conclusions. Augmentation of standard psychopharmacotherapy protocols with TMS is effective for the correction of psychomotor symptoms.