Included patients are adults, aged between 18 and 70 years, with major depression (Hamilton Rating scale for Depression, HAMD ≥ 15). Patients don't have any experience concerning repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS).
Patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) were assigned to two treatment groups in addition to their current pharmacotherapy regimen : one group received 5 active-rTMS before Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the other one received sham-rTMS before ECT. The depressive symptoms and the cognitive functions are evaluated before rTMS, after 5 rTMS and after 5 ECT.