Efficacy and Mechanism of rTMS on the Symptoms of Pleasure Deficit in Adolescent Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders among adolescents and is characterized by persistent low mood. According to a global statistical report released by the World Health Organization, about 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression, with the adolescent population being particularly prominent. Epidemiologic surveys in the Chinese region show that the prevalence of depression in adolescents is about 3.0%. The study points out that age is one of the key factors affecting major depression. Pleasure deficit, a reduced capacity for the experience of pleasure or a lack of appropriate emotional responses to rewards and positive stimuli, is a core symptom of depression and is considered a key internal phenotype of the illness. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a treatment for major depressive disorder that delivers a series of equally spaced pulses through repetitive TMS. Studies have shown that rTMS stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can significantly improve symptoms of pleasure deficit. Thus, rTMS may be an effective treatment option for depressed patients with pleasure deficit.