Objective To investigate the effects of different intensities of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on therapeutic efficacy and suicidal ideation in adolescents with depressive disorder.

Methods Adolescent patients with depressive disorder accompanied by suicidal ideation were selected as research subjects and divided into high-intensity group (n=27) and low-intensity group (n=28) according to different intensities of rTMS. General information, as well as scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) at enrollment, and at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, were compared between the two groups.

Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, years of education, HAMD-17 scores, BSS scores, suicidal ideation scores, and suicide risk scores at enrollment (P>0.05). At the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, the HAMD-17 scores in both the high-intensity and low-intensity groups were lower than those at enrollment (P < 0.05). At the end of the 4th week of treatment, the HAMD-17 score in the high-intensity group was lower than that in the low-intensity group (P < 0.05). At the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, the total BSS scores, suicidal ideation scores, and suicide risk factor scores in both the high-intensity and low-intensity groups decreased (P < 0.05). At the end of the 4th week of treatment, the total BSS scores, suicidal ideation scores, and suicide risk factor scores in the high-intensity group were lower than those in the low-intensity group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Different intensities of rTMS can improve depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depressive disorder, and high-intensity rTMS has a better therapeutic effect.