Could Accelerated TMS for Depression Become Standard?

Accelerated TMS offers hope for rapid relief of depression. New research identifies an easy-to-implement, effective treatment, alongside the need for ongoing research.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was first approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2008. Because it worked well for depression by using a strong magnetic field to stimulate key brain areas, TMS was recommended early on by the American Psychiatric Association in its 2010 Practice Guidelines (APA, 2010).

TMS has on-label FDA indications including major depressive disorder in teens 15-plus and adults, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraine headache, and for smoking cessation. TMS holds promise for other conditions (Marder et al., 2022), and potentially for wellness-related applications [1], all intriguing but requiring clinical caution, good evidence, and clear ethics with any off-label uses.

Accelerated TMS

Accelerated TMS protocols are of great interest, showing better results in a shorter time span than conventional four- to six-week courses, but aren’t as well-understood or accessible due, as noted below, to technical requirements. A recent pilot study…