Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Relieves Maternal Care Impairment

Overview

Objective: To evaluate the overall efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of maternal care impairment (MCI) and to explore the central mechanism of rTMS for MCI. Design: Combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with Maternal Care Rating Scale (MCRS) were used to pinpoint hyperactive brain regions of patients with low MCRS score. Therefore, a clinical trial was performed to validate the therapeutic potential of rTMS in low MCRS score patients.

Background: Emotional dysregulation in patients with maternal care impairment represents a significant therapeutic challenge. While aberrant central processing is implicated, the key brain regions driving these negative emotional states and their suitability as neuromodulatory targets remain undefined. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to the sham rTMS or rTMS group using a computer-generated randomization sequence created by an independent researcher who was not involved in recruitment, treatment, or outcome assessment. Allocation concealment was ensured using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes, which were opened only after baseline evaluations were completed. Both participants and outcome assessors were blinded to treatment allocation. The rTMS operators were not involved in data collection or analysis. For the sham condition, the coil was positioned identically over the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) with magnetic output disabled, and prerecorded clicking sounds were delivered to mimic the acoustic sensation of stimulation. Participants were asked not to discuss treatment sensations with assessors. Scale raters and fMRI analysts remained blinded until all analyses were finalized. For the nested fMRI cohort, randomization and blinding procedures were identical, with group allocation revealed only after preprocessing and statistical analysis had been completed.