Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Bipolar Depression: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Depressive episodes are more common and last longer in patients with bipolar disorder relative to manic or hypomanic episodes. They are often refractory to current pharmacologic treatment strategies, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. There has been increased interest in neuromodulatory treatments, namely repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treating bipolar depression, given its proven efficacy in unipolar depression. This review seeks to summarize the current evidence regarding the efficacy of rTMS for the treatment of depression in bipolar disorder, identify limitations, and provide suggestions for future research on the use of rTMS in the treatment of bipolar depression. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(2):68–72.]