Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Epilepsy
In June 1999, The Lancet reported that Dr. Frithjof Tergau and colleagues (Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Gottingen, Germany) have had "encouraging results" with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of epilepsy.
In the preliminary study, 9 persons who continued to have frequent seizures despite drug treatment were stimulated by a low frequency from a repetitive magnetic stimulator placed against the head. Most described an improvement in the number or severity of seizures. However, the effects of the treatment had worn off after 6-8 weeks.
The authors point out that, although low-frequency rTMS may temporarily improve intractable epilepsy, their work needs confirmation in placebo-controlled studies.
