Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on Emotion Regulation and Doubt in Adults with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder
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Objective: This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on emotion regulation and pathological doubt in adults with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).
Methods and Materials: Using a pretest–posttest control group design, 15 clients with a diagnosis of OCD who were referred to Norali Clinic in Tehran in the second half of 2024 were selected through convenience–purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. All participants completed the Maudsley Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire at baseline. The experimental group then received 16 sessions of high-frequency rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in addition to routine care, while the control group received routine care only. After the intervention, both groups completed the posttest measures. Data were analyzed using descriptive indices, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed a significant increase in emotion regulation strategies and a significant reduction in pathological doubt and obsessive–compulsive symptoms (p<0.05). Changes were consistent with neurobehavioral and neurobiological models that link prefrontal modulation to improved cognitive control over intrusive thoughts and compulsive urges.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that rTMS targeting the prefrontal cortex can be an effective adjunctive treatment for improving emotion regulation and reducing doubt-related symptoms in individuals with OCD. Further studies with larger samples, sham-controlled designs, and follow-up assessments are recommended to consolidate evidence for the clinical use of rTMS in OCD.
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