The Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Patients

This doctoral dissertation takes into account epidemiological and clinical data of the international literature about obesity and, generally, increased body weight (BMI≥ 25kg/m2) and their consequences on health. Obesity management challenges many specialties, while, currently, the approved therapeutic methods are dietary intervention, various drugs and, in severe cases, bariatric surgery. All of the above methods show some degree of recurrence, while surgery carries the risk of serious complications. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is classified into non-invasive brain stimulation methods and utilizes magnetic pulses generated by a coil to bring about changes in the brain. The method has already been approved for the treatment of some disorders, while it seems to help in the fight against many more psychiatric and neurological, mainly, diseases. The aim of the research will be to investigate the effectiveness of TMS in reducing body weight in participants with BMI≥ 25kg/m2. The doctoral dissertation will study the reduction of BMI in obese and overweight patients and the variation of this reduction depending on the severity of obesity and age. In addition, it will investigate the effectiveness by setting as a parameter the observance of a diet. It will also record and statistically process the improvement of symptoms in the spectrum of some psychiatric disorders (eg depressive and psychotic symptoms, psychosomatic disorders). The participants in the research will be hospitalized patients of the Psychiatric Clinic of the University General Hospital of Larissa (PGNL) and citizens. Clearly, patients from other clinics or other citizens can also participate in the research, provided they have a BMI≥ 25kg/m2. They will undergo 20 rTMS sessions (4 per week, for 5 weeks) and an assessment of BMI and some psychiatric symptoms before the start, at the end, 4 weeks after and 6 months after the end of the sessions. The rTMS will be applied to the left d