SynthesisWorld journal of pediatrics : WJP2025
Efficacy and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in youth with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials.
Synthesis in World journal of pediatrics : WJP, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Efficacy of a high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for craving reduction in adolescents with gaming disorder: a 4-week randomized control trial with 24-week follow-up.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMajor depressive disorder is a major cause of disability and health-related burden globally. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising alternative therapy for major depressive disorder in adults, but its efficacy and safety in 10-25 years (youth) with depression remains inconclusive. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rTMS in youth with depression in randomized sham-controlled trials.
methodsA comprehensive search of nine databases was conducted from inception to April 30, 2025. Trials using random assignment with a sham control group were selected. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I
resultsSixteen studies with 1295 patients aged 10-25 years were included. Meta-analysis showed that active rTMS significantly reduced depression scale scores (SMD = - 0.93, 95% CI = - 1.31 to - 0.55). Subgroup analysis revealed significant relief of depressive symptoms at the second week (SMD = - 0.66, 95% CI = - 1.25 to - 0.07) and persisting at the fourth week (SMD = - 1.28, 95% CI = - 1.82 to - 0.75) when compared to sham stimulation. Pooled RR was 1.24 (95% CI = 1.06-1.45) for response rate and 1.63 (95% CI = 1.11-2.39) for remission rate (with an associated number needed to treat of 10).
conclusionsEvidence indicates that rTMS is effective, safe and exhibits a relatively rapid onset of action for treating youth depression. Larger-scale studies with longer treatment durations and extended follow-up periods are essential to understand and characterize the short- and long-term neuromodulatory effects within this vulnerable population. The effect of rTMS in treatment-resistant depression and its use across diverse populations also need further investigation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.