Adolescent depression is a significant health concern, and while combined therapies involving neuromodulation and psychotherapy show promise, individual treatment responses vary heterogeneity. This prospective cohort study enrolled 163 adolescents aged 12-18 with MDD. All participants received a standardized 4-week intervention consisting of 20 sessions of high-frequency (10 Hz) rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and 8 sessions of group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Baseline assessments included the Family Environment Scale (FES) and a neuropsychological battery including the Stroop Color-Word Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in depressive symptoms measured by the HAMD-24 scale. The study employs multiple linear regression to determine which baseline factors independently predict superior treatment outcomes.
