Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The SAINTS (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) is a study authored by Nolan Williams, M.D., and his team at Stanford University. The protocol was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on April 6, 2020. SAINT is an advanced form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) that delivers a high frequency of magnetic pulses, targeting brain regions associated with depression more precisely. This protocol administers intensive TMS sessions multiple times per day over five days, significantly reduces depressive symptoms in patients.

The study found that this accelerated treatment led to rapid remission in a majority of participants, with some experiencing relief within days. It reported that 90% of participated achieved remission from severe depression symptoms by the end of the 5 day treatment. The paper highlights the potential of SAINTS as an effective, fast-acting therapy for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.