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Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a popular and effective treatment for drug resistant depression. However, there is considerable variability in clinical outcomes, in previous studies and between patients. Because of high requirements for the use of fMRI based neuronavigation, many practitioners of rTMS still choose to use a standard 5 cm rule for rTMS coil placement which leads to large variations in which brain regions are being stimulated. We decided to test the possibilities of a MNI based MR-less neuronavigation system in rTMS depression treatment, by comparing the physiological effects and clinical outcomes of 3 distinct stimulation targets. Forty-six patients (thirty-three female, thirteen male) from the Republican Vilnius psychiatric hospital, all with drug resistant depressive disorder, participated in the study. All patients received high frequency (10 Hz) stimulation for 10 to 15 daily rTMS sessions. However, before the treatment they were randomly sorted into 3 groups according to stimulation target in MNI map: Group 1 received rTMS at point-40; 48; 35; Group 2 received rTMS at point-46; 45; 38; Group 3 received rTMS at point-38; 44; 26. Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings and clinical tests were obtained the day before the rTMS course and after the last session. There were some notable differences in physiological changes between the groups, with the largest EEG band spectral power increases found in Group 1 patients and the lowest in Group 2 patients. There was a significantly larger decrease of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores in the Group 3 (66.94%) compared to Group 1 (57.52%) and Group 2 (56.02%). This suggests it is possible to achieve higher clinical efficacy and less physiological impact on the brain when using different targets in a neuronavigated MNI based MR-less rTMS system.

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Resistance to pharmacological treatment poses a notable challenge for psychiatry. Such cases are usually treated with brain stimulation techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Empirical evidence links treatment resistance to insufficient brain plasticity and chronic inflammation. Therefore, this study encompasses analysis of neurotrophic and inflammatory factors in psychiatric patients undergoing rTMS and ECT in order to refine the selection of patients and predict clinical outcomes. This study enrolled 25 drug‐resistant depressive patients undergoing rTMS and 31 drug‐resistant schizophrenia patients undergoing ECT. Clinical efficacy of brain stimulation therapies was gauged using MADRS and HAM‐D scales in the depression group and PANSS scale in the schizophrenia group. Blood‐derived BDNF, VEGF, and TNFα were analysed during the treatment course. For reference, 19 healthy control subjects were also enrolled. After statistical analysis, no significant differences were detected in BDNF, VEGF, and TNFα concentrations among healthy, depressive, and schizophrenic subject groups before the treatment. However, depressive patient treatment with rTMS has increased BDNF concentration, while schizophrenic patient treatment with ECT has lowered the concentration of TNFα. Our findings suggest that a lower initial TNFα concentration could be a marker for treatment success in depressed patients undergoing rTMS, whereas in schizophrenic patient group treated with ECT, a higher concentration of VEGF correlates to milder symptoms post‐treatment, especially in the negative scale.