Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Conventional Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression: A Step-by-Step Protocol
Published on: November 21, 2025
Pilot Study of Accelerated Low-Frequency Right-Sided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant
Phern-Chern Tor1, Verònica Gálvez, James Goldstein
1From the *Department of General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, Singapore; †School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; ‡Black Dog Institute, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and §Department of Psychiatry, St George Hospital, Level 2, James Laws House, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Accelerated low-frequency right-sided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is safe for treatment-resistant depression. While not achieving remission, this accelerated rTMS approach showed promising efficacy in reducing depression scores.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an established treatment for depression, typically requiring 4-6 weeks of daily sessions.
- Previous research on accelerated rTMS focused on high-frequency left-sided stimulation.
- The current study explores a novel accelerated protocol using low-frequency right-sided rTMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the safety and efficacy of an accelerated low-frequency right-sided rTMS protocol.
- To assess the feasibility of delivering a high number of pulses in a shorter timeframe.
Main Methods:
- An open-label pilot study involving 7 patients with treatment-resistant depression.
- Administered accelerated rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (1 Hz, 900 pulses/session) over 10 consecutive weekdays.
- Monitored depression scores using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
Main Results:
- All participants safely completed the accelerated rTMS treatment course.
- Significant reductions in MADRS scores were observed by day 3, and BDI-II scores by the end of treatment.
- No patients achieved full response or remission criteria during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Accelerated low-frequency right-sided rTMS appears to be a safe and potentially effective option for treatment-resistant depression.
- Further research, including controlled trials with longer follow-up, is warranted to confirm efficacy.
- This protocol may offer a faster alternative to standard rTMS treatment durations.
