Continuation Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Unipolar or Bipolar Depression
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) but may be associated with adverse cognitive effects. Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a promising alternative convulsive treatment with a safer cognitive profile. Although there is emerging evidence for the efficacy of MST for TRD as an acute treatment, there are no published studies of continuation MST for the prevention of relapse. diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder who met response criteria after acute MST were offered continuation MST in a prospective, open-label trial between February 2012 and June 2019. They received 12 continuation MST sessions with decreasing frequency over the course of 6 months, with additional booster sessions if their depression symptoms started to worsen. The primary outcome was relapse of depression or psychiatric hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included relapse of suicidal ideation and neurocognitive outcomes. = .58). Mean (SD) survival time was 18.6 (1.6) weeks. All 17 participants who achieved resolution of baseline suicidality after acute MST remained free of suicidality during the continuation phase. Except for improvement in verbal fluency, neurocognitive test scores did not change during continuation MST. During 6 months of continuation MST, two-thirds of participants sustained improvements in depressive symptoms without any adverse cognitive effects. Future studies of continuation MST are warranted, particularly in comparison to ECT. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01596608.
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Results from RCTs have supported the efficacy of magnetic seizure therapy, with additional evidence demonstrating continuation of effect.
“In addition, results from RCTs have sup ported the efficacy of magnetic seizure ther apy, with additional evidence demonstrat ing continuation of effect 250,251 .”
From Treatment‐resistant depression: definition, prevalence, detection, management, and investigational interventions (2023) · cites this paper as [251]
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- Authors
- Tang, V. M., Blumberger, D. M., Throop, A., McClintock, S. M., Voineskos, D., Downar, J., Knyahnytska, Y., Mulsant, B. H., Fitzgerald, P. B., & Daskalakis, Z. J.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- Duke University (US)
- University Health Network (CA)
- Epworth Hospital (AU)
- ORCID
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc
- Published
- 2021-10-19
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 6
- ISSN
- 0160-6689 (ISSN-L)
- 1555-2101
- OpenAlex
- W3205793382
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 1.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Keywords
- magnetic seizure therapy, continuation treatment, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, relapse prevention, suicide prevention, neurocognitive effects, verbal fluency
- MeSH terms
- Mental Status and Dementia Tests, Bipolar Disorder, Continuity of Patient Care, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Verbal Behavior, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Patient Selection, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Secondary Prevention, Suicidal Ideation, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant
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