TMS ACCELERATED (MODIFIED SAINT) PROTOCOL

One of the recent changes in the TMS landscape is the addition of the theta burst (iTBS) protocol.  Theta burst is merely a different pattern of magnetic pulses compared with standard TMS (also called rTMS).  rTMS involves 10 pulses per second, designed to synchronize with the alpha waves in the brain.

Theta burst on the other hand, is delivered as groups of three pulses at a rate of 50 per second.  This synchronizes with a different brainwave, the theta wave.  The other big difference is that whereas rTMS treatments last for between 12 and 37 minutes (on our machine it is between 12 and 15 minutes), theta burst treatments last only 3 minutes.  They feel a little bit more intense, more buzzy and less clicky, but the tradeoff is that they are significantly quicker.

Other than the pattern, the basic principles are the same, a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells to fire and strengthen their connections with one another.

rTMS and theta burst have been compared head-to-head and shown to be of equal effectiveness.  Consequently, Southeastern Psychiatric Associates offers both forms of treatment and it is entirely a matter of the personal preference of the patient.

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