Maintenance of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation for Preventing Relapse in Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression relapse rates remain high after acute treatment; this study evaluates the efficacy of maintenance noninvasive brain stimulation in preventing relapse and identifies optimal treatment parameters.

Methods

This meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases up to January 5, 2025. The primary outcome was relapse rate.

Results

A total of nine randomized controlled trials with 837 participants were included, six studies used electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and three studies used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Our findings indicate that ECT combined with pharmacotherapy or rTMS alone demonstrated superiority over p

SUBMITTER: Wang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12781222 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature