Promising Results for Enhanced TMS in Hard-to-Treat Depression

Researchers have developed an enhanced transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol for treating hard-to-treat depression. The modified TMS approach, which combines left-brain stimulation with high-frequency bursts to the right brain, achieved a 66% response rate and 42% acute remission in patients with major depressive disorder, surpassing the standard FDA-approved protocol's 29% response rate. The new method also showed effectiveness in younger adults and those with conditions like anxiety and PTSD. This breakthrough offers hope for more effective and side-effect-free treatments for mental illnesses.