- Accelerated Deep TMS sessions show comparable efficacy to standard sessions while significantly reducing treatment time.
- High response rate of 87.8% and remission in just 21 days for the accelerated treatment group.
- Protocol demonstrates strong safety with no serious adverse events.
BrainsWay (BWAY, Financial) has announced promising results from a significant multicenter randomized trial evaluating an accelerated Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) protocol for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The study, involving 104 adult patients across eight sites, demonstrated that the accelerated protocol maintains efficacy while significantly reducing the treatment burden compared to the standard protocol.
Patients undergoing the accelerated Deep TMS treatment received five 10-minute sessions daily over six days, accompanied by eight continuation sessions. This contrasts sharply with traditional protocols requiring daily 20-minute sessions over six weeks. Results revealed a reduction in depression scores of 18.9 points for the accelerated group compared to 19.9 points for the standard group. The response rate for the accelerated treatment was 87.8%, with the median remission achieved in 21 days versus 28 days for the conventional treatment approach.
The accelerated protocol, which does not yet have FDA clearance and remains investigational, was well-tolerated, showing no serious adverse events. Notably, the study utilized BrainsWay's existing H1 Coil, eliminating the need for costly MRI neuronavigation equipment, potentially offering a more accessible treatment option for depression patients. The findings could significantly open up access to effective non-medication treatments for depression, though further analysis and peer reviews are pending.
