Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol
Published on: November 21, 2025
Long-term Follow-up of MDD Patients Who Respond to Deep rTMS: A Brief Report
Oded Rosenberg1, Limor Dinur Klein1, Roman Gersner2
1Beer Ya'acov Mental Health Center affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, University of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Background:
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is effective in treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and in re-treatment in case of relapse. Our study evaluates the long-term durability of dTMS in MDD.
Method:
Seventeen patients that responded to dTMS treatment evaluated. Follow-up period was 9.3 months. Patients were considered as relapsed if: HDRS (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) score was 16 points or more, in case of change in antidepressants, hospitalization due to exacerbation, referral to ECT.
Results:
Six months after last treatment three patients relapsed (17.6%). During the follow-up of 9.3 months, nine relapsed. Relapse rate was 5.6 per 100 person-months. Patients continued to improve in HDRS following the treatment. We have found number of treatment sessions, stimulation, age, age of depressive disorder onset, length of depressive episode prior to the first treatment, as well as number of depressive episodes to have no predictive value regarding propensity to relapse in these patients.
Limitations:
The study's main limitations are the relatively small sample size, patients differing in follow-up periods and the lack of a control group.
Conclusion:
Relapse rates after dTMS are comparable to pharmacotherapy and ECT.
