Recent research from Cambridge, UK, and Guiyang, China, has revealed that an accelerated form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may significantly improve recovery times for patients suffering from depression. Traditional TMS treatment involves 20 sessions spread over several weeks, but this new approach condenses the treatment into just five days, with four sessions per day.
The study, published in Psychological Medicine on November 9, 2024, involved 75 participants who were randomly divided into three groups: one receiving dual TMS treatment targeting both sides of the brain, another receiving single TMS treatment, and a control group receiving sham treatments. The dual treatment group showed a remarkable improvement, with 48% of participants experiencing clinically relevant responses compared to only 18% in the single treatment group and 4% in the control group.
Professor Valerie Voon, leading the UK side of the study, emphasized the rapid effect of the dual TMS approach, making it particularly beneficial for severe cases of depression, including those with suicidal thoughts. The treatment's effectiveness was linked to enhanced connectivity between brain regions involved in decision-making and emotional regulation.
While some participants reported local pain from the dual treatment, there were no dropouts, indicating a tolerable safety profile. The researchers are now exploring which specific areas of the orbitofrontal cortex to target for optimal results in treating depression.