Trial reportBrain and behavior2023
Cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus propranolol for essential tremor.
Trial report in Brain and behavior, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06145932 (the Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Mechanisms in Clinical Function of Essential Tremor), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
the Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Mechanisms in Clinical Function of Essential Tremor
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation in essential tremor: a systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and efficacy.Acta neurologica Belgica · 2025Pooled it
- Cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus propranolol for essential tremor.Brain and behavior · 2023Trial
- Current and Emerging Therapeutic Targets for Essential Tremor: A Critical Appraisal of Recent Preclinical and Clinical Studies.Movement disorders clinical practice · 2025Review
- Advances in Cerebellar TMS Therapy: An Updated Systematic Review on Multi-Session Interventions.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Limited Potential of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment of Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review.NeuroSci · 2024Review
- Clinical neurophysiology in the treatment of movement disorders: IFCN handbook chapter.Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024Review
- Efficacy of Cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treating Essential Tremor: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.Journal of clinical neurology (Seoul, Korea) · 2024Article
- Review
- Protocol for a Phase 2 randomized controlled patient-assessor blinded study: efficacy and safety of combined cortical and cerebellar dual-target transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of essential tremor.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPropranolol, a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker, has long been used as one of the standard treatments for essential tremor (ET). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has also been used for a long time as a substitution therapy for ET patients.
objectiveThe main aim of this study was to evaluate the antitremor effect of 1-Hz (low-frequency) cerebellar rTMS and compare it to the use of propranolol in ET patients.
methodsIn this single-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot study, a total of 38 patients with ET were randomized into two groups. One group (n = 20) received 1200 pulses of 1-Hz rTMS at an intensity of 90% of the resting motor threshold to the bilateral cerebellar region for 10 days. Another group (n = 18) received oral propranolol for 30 days. The initial dose was 30 mg/day, which was increased to 60 mg/day after 5 days, then to 90 mg/day on the 11th day, and continued thereafter for 20 days. The Fahn-Tolosa-Marin (FTM) clinical scale was assessed at baseline and at days 5, 10, and 30 to evaluate tremor severity, specific motor tasks, and functional disability.
resultsLow-frequency rTMS of the cerebellum significantly improved tremor severity, specific motor tasks (writing, spiral drawing, and pouring), and FTM total scores on days 10 and 30. Nevertheless, we found no significant difference in functional disability at any point in time (p > .05). There were no statistically significant differences in FTM Part A, Part B, Part C scores and total scores of patients in propranolol group on days 5 and 10 compared with before treatment (p > .05). However, FTM total scores and FTM Part A, Part B, and Part C scores were significantly improved for patients when the dose of propranolol was 90 mg/day on day 30. Our study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the total FTM scores and FTM Part A, Part B, and Part C scores between rTMS and propranolol on days 5, 10, and 30 (p > .05).
conclusionWe conclude that both cerebellar low-frequency rTMS and propranolol could be effective treatment options for patients with ET, but it is not clear which method is more effective.
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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.