Bipolar Disorder — A Study of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Bipolar Patients
Citation(s)
Kedzior KK, Schuchinsky M, Gerkensmeier I, Loo C Challenges in comparing the acute cognitive outcomes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) vs. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in major depression: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res. 2017 Aug;91:14-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.03.002. Epub 2017 Mar 2. Review.
Martin DM, McClintock SM, Forster JJ, Lo TY, Loo CK Cognitive enhancing effects of rTMS administered to the prefrontal cortex in patients with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual task effects. Depress Anxiety. 2017 Nov;34(11):1029-1039. doi: 10.1002/da.22658. Epub 2017 May 24. Review.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to Improve Cognitive Function and Prevent Relapses in Bipolar Patients
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.