Study Design

Prospective participants completed an initial assessment via a structured psychiatric clinical interview, IQ testing, and review of documentation of prior diagnostic testing for ASD, MDD, or intellectual disabilities. Female participants were given a pregnancy test. Once eligibility was confirmed and consent given, participants and designated informants (usually a parent) filled out standardized clinical scales for the participant’s baseline MDD and ASD symptom burden. Participants were then treated with twenty-five sessions of rTMS as described below. Allowances were made for missed appointments or holidays, in order for each person to receive 25 treatment sessions within 6 calendar weeks. After completion of the rTMS sessions, post-treatment clinical scales were completed. One-month and three-month follow-up clinical scales were sought from participants and their informants.