OBJECTIVE: The literature on managing migraine non-responsive to pharmacological approaches and that co-occurring with depression is scanty. The comorbid condition predicts a poorer prognosis for migraine as well as depression. The present report assesses efficacy and tolerability of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a treatment modality for migraine with comorbid depression. METHODS: The current retrospective chart review assesses effectiveness of high frequency rTMS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as a treatment modality to manage migraine occurring comorbid with depression in 14 subjects. RESULTS: The mean scores on Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS) and depression rating scale reduced significantly from 21.14±3.01 and 20.71±3.95 at baseline to 13.93±6.09 and 14.21±5.52 respectively, after rTMS. There was significant improvement in migraine frequency, severity and functional disability assessed using MIDAS scores (p < 0.05) following high frequency rTMS compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: There is a role of applying rTMS as a potential therapeutic modality in the integrated management of a distinct subgroup of migraine patients with comorbid depression.
Depression ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and/or obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) are frequently comorbid with schizophrenia, though the exact clinical and etiological relationship between them is poorly understood. Here we describe a case that, to the best of our knowledge, is the first report of new-onset OCD in a patient who was receiving high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over left dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex as an adjuvant therapy for negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Thisreport supports our understanding of OCD as a brain disorder involving hyper-activity of pre-frontal cortex and cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit dysfunction.
Brain Diseases ; Humans ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Schizophrenia ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation