Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

Studying the Effect of Repetitive Transcortical Magnetic Stimulation on Brain Activity and Anxiety in Male Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
y movahedi 1
A bayat 2
1 Associate Prof., Dept. of Design, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22123/chj.2025.479221.2126
Abstract
Introduction: Studies have shown that brain waves in anxious patients operate abnormally. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation on brain activity and anxiety in male patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Materials and Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, the statistical population was all male patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder referred to psychiatric centers in Tabriz in 2024, approximately 200 men. Both experimental and control groups were evaluated in terms of beta and theta waves of the PZ region and also the severity of anxiety, and then the experimental group was treated for 30 sessions. The intervention was performed in the dorsolateral region of the left prefrontal cortex. The control group did not receive any intervention. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data.
Results:The mean and standard deviation of the pre-test and post-test anxiety scores of the experimental group were 39.53±3.34 and 76.27±3.98, respectively (p<0.001) and for the control group they were 38.36±3.75 and 38.32±3.71, respectively (p<0.47). The mean and standard deviation of the pre-test and post-test beta PZ scores of the experimental group were 43.12±4.56 and 39.19±3.23, respectively (p<0.001) and for the control group they were 42.54±4.34 and 43.65±4.76, respectively (p<0.71). The mean and standard deviation of the pre-test and post-test PZ theta scores of the experimental group were 11.19±2.65 and 56.44±2.5, respectively (p<0.001) and for the control group they were 10.75±2.12 and 11.29±2.73, respectively (p<0.12).
Conclusion:It seems that repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation can affect brain activity and anxiety in patients. Therefore, repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation can be used as an effective treatment for reducing anxiety in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Keywords
Brain stimulation
Anxiety
Delta
Beta
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Community Health Journal
Volume 18, Issue 4
Spring 2025
Pages 28-38