Gerardo Trejo-Cruz, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Querétaro, Mexico
Julian V. Reyes-López, Neurodiagnostics and Rehabilitation Unit, University Health System, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro; Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro; Mexico
Jesús A. Moo-Estrella, Laboratory of Sleep and Neurosciences, Autonomous University of Yucatán, Yucatán, Mexico
Ruth Alcalá-Lozano, Neuromodulation Laboratory, Sub-Directorate of Clinical Research, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
Sarael Alcauter, Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Mónica A. López-Hidalgo, Neurofisiología de las Interacciones Neuro-gliales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Ana A. Sánchez-Tusie, Department of Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Cellular and Molecular Physiology Laboratory, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, México
Sofía Cañizares-Gómez, Neurodiagnostics and Rehabilitation Unit, University Health System, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
René F. Rodríguez-Valdés, Neurodiagnostics and Rehabilitation Unit, University Health System, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, México
Liane Aguilar-Fabré, Neurodiagnostics and Rehabilitation Unit, University Health System, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, México
Marbella Cortés-Espino, State Mental Health Center, Queretaro State Health Services, Querétaro, Mexico
Hebert L. Hernández-Montiel, Neurodiagnostics and Rehabilitation Unit, University Health System, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, México
Objective: To analyze the clinical outcomes of two intermittent theta burst protocols applied to depressed patients with semi-structured suicidal thinking. Methods: 23 participants with Depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition criteria, were accepted via informant consent and randomized in Group A: 1 session and Group B: 3 sessions, during 4 weeks, using clinical Scales for depression and suicidal behavior to assess each participant. Results: Wilcoxon rank test analysis showed statistically significant post-treatment reduction on suicidal thoughts for Group B (p < 0.01) with also a larger effect-size (> 0.80) which it was measured with Hedges’ g. Hazard Ratio analysis showed a major probability for Group B to decrease suicide-related thinking. Conclusions: A decrease in suicidal thinking was more observed in the group that received three sessions daily for 4 weeks, indicating more sessions during the day could offer a quicker response to suicidal thinking, especially for prevention of this type of behavior in areas where no hospitalization is available. These results support the feasibility of creating new preventive methods to improve the efficacy in the early eradication of suicidal thoughts.
Keywords: Depression. Intermittent Theta Burst. Suicide behavior. Suicidal thinking. Transcranial magnetic stimulation.
