AIM: This study examined the effects of two accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocols in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Twenty-two patients received accelerated high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS; 10 Hz, left prefrontal cortex), and 18 received accelerated low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS; 1 Hz, right prefrontal cortex). Each participant underwent 10 sessions over 2 consecutive days (5 sessions per day). Depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 1 day, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: HAM-D scores significantly decreased from baseline after accelerated rTMS and remained improved over 4 weeks. Both HF-rTMS and LF-rTMS produced comparable early reductions in depression severity, with LF-rTMS showing a greater HAM-D reduction at 4 weeks. HAM-A and PSQI scores also improved at 2 and 4 weeks in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both accelerated HF- and LF-rTMS protocols were associated with improvements in depressive, anxiety and sleep symptoms in patients with MDD, and LF-rTMS may confer more sustained antidepressant effects.
Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.