SynthesisThe international journal of neuropsychopharmacology2022
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 38 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review of transcranial magnetic stimulation for generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.BMC psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Comparison of resting-state brain activity between insomnia and generalized anxiety disorder: A coordinate-based meta-analysis.Brain imaging and behavior · 2025Pooled it
- Global trends and research hotspots in the treatment of mental disorders with transcranial magnetic stimulation: a bibliometric analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists professional practice guidelines for the administration of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2024Guideline
- A Pilot Trial of Stepwise Implementation of Virtual Reality Mindfulness and Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatments for Dysphoria in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.Depression and anxiety · 2023Trial
- Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment-resistant depression.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2022Trial
- Feasibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation adjuvant therapy for chronic respiratory diseases: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Review
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: advances for psychiatric disorders.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Review
- Clinical features and genetic mechanisms of anxiety, fear, and avoidance: A comprehensive review of five anxiety disorders.Molecular psychiatry · 2025Review
- Consensus review and considerations on TMS to treat depression: A comprehensive update endorsed by the National Network of Depression Centers, the Clinical TMS Society, and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology.Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025Review
- [Comparative analysis of the impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and burst transcranial magnetic stimulation at different frequencies on memory function and neuronal excitability of mice].Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi · 2024Article
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation as a countermeasure for behavioral and neuropsychological risks of long-duration and deep-space missions.NPJ microgravity · 2024Article
- rTMS for post-covid-19 condition: A sham-controlled case series involving iTBS-300 and iTBS-600.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2024Article
- rTMS ameliorates depressive-like behaviors and regulates the gut microbiome and medium- and long-chain fatty acids in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2023Article
- Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation to the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex May Increase Potentiated Startle in Healthy Individuals.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2023Article
- Fatigue Potentially Reduces the Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Depression Following COVID-19 and Its Vaccination.Vaccines · 2023Article
- Therapeutic potential of brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of mental, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2023Review
- Benefits from Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAnxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) impact 10% of the US population, and many patients do not completely respond to first-line treatments (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and psychotherapy). Given the dearth of evidence for non-pharmacologic, non-psychotherapeutic interventions, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in adults with GAD.
methodsA systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted. Pre- and post-treatment anxiety scores were extracted, and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to determine the magnitude of improvement (standardized mean difference). Standard assessments of heterogeneity (e.g., Q-statistic, I2, and τ 2) and publication bias were performed.
resultsThe initial search resulted in 3194 citations, of which 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis. In total, 152 patients were studied, including 97 patients who received active treatment and 55 who received sham treatment, and heterogeneity was modest (I2 13.32, Q = 5.77). In patients with GAD, rTMS produced a standardized mean difference of -1.857 (confidence interval: -2.219 to -1.494; P < .001) with a prediction interval of -2.55 to -1.16.
conclusionsThe results suggest a robust effect of rTMS in GAD in the context of limited, heterogenous studies. Rigorously designed, randomized controlled trials of rTMS for GAD and related anxiety disorders are urgently needed. These studies will provide opportunities for biomarker development and integration of concurrent evidence-based psychotherapy to maximize results.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.