Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40266345›Full record

Trial reportEuropean archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience2025

A comparison between rTMS and antidepressant medication on depressive symptom clusters in treatment-resistant depression.

Iris Dalhuisen, Tom Biemans, Cornelis F Vos, Sophie Ter Hark, Iris van Oostrom, Jan Spijker, Ben Wijnen, Eric van Exel, Hans van Mierlo, Dieuwertje de Waardt and 4 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase IVComparative StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03548675 (Pharmacogenetics to Improve Personalized Antidepressant Dosing in Patients With Severe Depression;a Randomized Controlled Trial Using Tricyclic Antidepressants), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT03548675 phase4completednot on this map

Pharmacogenetics to Improve Personalized Antidepressant Dosing in Patients With Severe Depression;a Randomized Controlled Trial Using Tricyclic Antidepressants

TypeinterventionalSponsorRadboud University Medical CenterRan2018 to 2022Enrolled125ConditionsDepressive Disorder, MajorArmsTCA treatment
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Iris Dalhuisen *Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. iris.dalhuisen@radboudumc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7539-6498
Tom Biemans *Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Cornelis F VosDepartment of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Sophie Ter HarkDepartment of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Iris van OostromNeurocare Clinics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Jan SpijkerDepression Expertise Centre, Pro Persona Mental Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ben WijnenCenter for Economic Evaluations, Trimbos Institute - Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Eric van ExelDepartment of Psychiatry, GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Hans van MierloDepartment of Psychiatry & Psychology, St. Antonius Hospital, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Dieuwertje de WaardtDepartment of Psychiatry, ETZ Hospital (Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis), Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Martijn ArnsResearch Institute Brainclinics, Brainclinics Foundation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Indira TendolkarDepartment of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Joost JanzingDepartment of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Philip van EijndhovenDepartment of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

ZonMw 848016004ZonMw 852001925
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntidepressive treatment outcomes can be assessed using sum scores from measurement scales, but symptom clusters may better capture the multidimensional structure of depression. Little is known about the comparative effectiveness of different treatment modalities on these clusters. We sought to evaluate the effects of rTMS and antidepressant medication on four symptom clusters and the extent to which these differ between treatments. In addition, we assessed whether baseline cluster scores predicted (non)response.

methodsData were obtained from two clinical trials (DETECT: rTMS vs. medication; PITA: tricyclic antidepressants). Primary outcomes were symptom cluster scores: 'General Depression', 'Anxiety', 'Somatic Symptoms' and 'Insomnia'. In the primary analysis based on DETECT, a MANCOVA comparing rTMS with medication was performed. For validation, a MANCOVA was performed replacing medication data from DETECT with data from PITA. Baseline symptom cluster scores were compared between responders and non-responders, as well as treatment groups.

resultsIn both the primary and validation analyses, no difference was seen between rTMS and medication on the symptom clusters. Similar patterns of response were observed in all groups, with 'Insomnia' showing the greatest effect of treatment. Baseline cluster scores did not predict treatment response.

conclusionsWe did not find a differential effect of rTMS or antidepressant medication on depressive symptom clusters. Both treatments demonstrated comparable response patterns for all clusters, and baseline cluster scores did not differ between responders and non-responders. Future studies with larger samples or more homogeneous treatments may elucidate the role of symptom clusters as a tool for more individualized treatment.

trial registrationPITA NCT03548675 DETECT The Netherlands Trial Register NL7628.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsAntidepressive Agents, TricyclicDepressive Disorder, Treatment-ResistantOutcome Assessment, Health CareTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersAntidepressive AgentsAntidepressive Agents, TricyclicAntidepressantsDepressionrTMSSymptom clustersTreatment resistance

Identifiers

PMID40266345
PMCPMC12500816

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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.