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rTMS tied to lower scores than three drug strategies in late-life resistant depression; thalamic DBS harms tracked; SWIFT coverage grows

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THE SHORT READ

An analysis of 758 older adults in the American Journal of Psychiatry associated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with lower depression scores than three pharmacotherapy strategies for late-life treatment-resistant depression. Other developments included psychiatric harms after thalamic deep brain stimulation for epilepsy and wider coverage of an accelerated Deep TMS protocol, according to its maker.

THE DETAILS
  • Research Oct 14, 2026
    rTMS tied to lower MADRS scores than three drug strategies in 758 older adults with treatment-resistant depression
    An observational analysis in the American Journal of Psychiatry pooled individual participant data on 758 adults age 60 or older with late-life treatment-resistant depression from two randomized trials, one of once-daily bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for four to six weeks and one of pharmacotherapy. After adjustment, rTMS was associated with lower Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores at 10 weeks than aripiprazole augmentation (difference 4.16 points, 95% CI 2.32 to 6.00), bupropion augmentation (6.08 points) and a switch to bupropion (6.36 points). Headache was more common with rTMS. Treatments were not randomized against each other.
    Sources: American Journal of Psychiatry, PubMed
  • Research Oct 12, 2026
    Harmful ideation or behavior after thalamic DBS for epilepsy is tied to preoperative psychiatric history in 90-patient study
    Emory University researchers reported in Epilepsia that 11 of 90 patients (12.2%) treated with deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus for drug-resistant epilepsy developed new or worsening harmful ideation or behavior, defined as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, homicidal ideation, threats or physical aggression requiring clinical intervention. Preoperative harmful ideation or behavior predicted the outcome (odds ratio 8.07, P = .003). Symptoms resolved in eight patients after a change from high- to low-frequency stimulation and in three after contact and amplitude changes. The authors recommended careful preoperative psychiatric evaluation and close postoperative monitoring.
    Sources: Epilepsia, PubMed
  • Policy Oct 13, 2026
    BrainsWay says U.S. policies covering its accelerated SWIFT Deep TMS protocol now reach over 70 million lives
    BrainsWay said the number of U.S. medical policies providing favorable coverage for its SWIFT Accelerated Deep TMS protocol for depression has expanded, reaching over 70 million covered lives. The company did not name the payers. The release did not give the protocol's number of sessions or days.
    Source: BrainsWay

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