Research code: 13652210912534127040163315382
Ethics code: IR.IAU.TMU.REC.1404.369
1- Department of Psychology, TeMS.c., Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran.
2- Cognitive and Neuroscience research center (CNRC), TeMs.C.,Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran.
3- Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (37 Views)
Introduction: Ischemic stroke can affect the rehabilitation process of patients by disrupting the neural networks associated with emotion and its regulation. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of the rTMS intervention on difficulties in emotion regulation in patients with ischemic stroke.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study had a pretest-posttest design with a control group. Sixty patients with ischemic stroke from Tabassom Clinic in Tehran in 2025 were selected non-randomly, by convenience and purposive sampling (based on inclusion and exclusion criteria), and were matched into two groups of 30, experimental and control. The experimental group received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during 15 sessions (three times a week), and the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and were analyzed by analysis of covariance.
Results: The results of univariate analysis of covariance showed that, after controlling for the pretest effect, the two groups differed significantly in the total score of difficulties in emotion regulation (P<0.001). Moreover, the two groups had significant differences in the subscales of emotion regulation (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may reduce difficulties in emotion regulation in patients with ischemic stroke, possibly by modulating fronto-limbic neural circuits. Therefore, rTMS may be used as a non-invasive neuromodulatory and adjunctive intervention in comprehensive rehabilitation programs to promote patients’ psychological and emotional well-being and accelerate the recovery process following stroke.
Keywords: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Ischemic Stroke
Type of Study:
Research |
Received: 2026/07/21 | Accepted: 2026/09/15