Fierce Biotech describes a clinical study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research that examined the efficacy of a variety of accelerated Deep TMS treatment protocols for Major Depressive Disorder. 111 depressed patients received either two, three, five, or ten Deep TMS sessions per day, spaced out by at least 50 minutes, with nearly all patients receiving intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS).
After one month, an average of ~80% of patients responded to treatment, with greater than 50% achieving remission. Response rates varied among the accelerated protocols, but not significantly so. Responses to accelerated treatment came on average in the third or fourth day of treatment. Treatment was found to be durable among about 87% of the 30 patients who completed a two-month check and 93% of the 14 participants who stayed on for six months.
The study authors concluded that accelerated Deep TMS protocols are safe, effective, and durable options to treat depression. These protocols have not yet been FDA cleared, but provide compelling data to pursue expanded labeling for Deep TMS.
