Harvard-led data show rTMS augmentation reduced depressive symptoms more than switching to venlafaxine XR, with better response and remission outcomes than aripiprazole augmentation.
← Back to ResearchThis study highlights the superior effectiveness of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for individuals with Major Depressive Disorder unresponsive to prior treatment. In head-to-head trials, rTMS augmentation outperformed switching to venlafaxine XR, and showed advantages over aripiprazole augmentation in response and remission rates.
Westside NeuroTherapeutics was a data collection site for this Harvard-led trial, with our own Dr. Alexander Bystritsky serving as Primary Investigator (PI).
For patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), standard medication pathways frequently fail, leaving symptoms unresolved.
TMS is a non-invasive therapy targeting brain regions involved in mood regulation. Used as augmentation to existing antidepressants, rTMS provides meaningful clinical benefit in TRD.
On the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), over 8 weeks the rTMS augmentation group achieved greater symptom reduction than the venlafaxine XR switch group (≈4.2 points). Response and remission measures also favored rTMS over both aripiprazole and venlafaxine XR.
rTMS augmentation is more effective than switching to venlafaxine XR for TRD. While aripiprazole augmentation was superior to venlafaxine XR, it did not match the efficacy of rTMS. For many who have exhausted medication options, rTMS augmentation offers a breakthrough path forward.