Treatment-Resistant Depression
For adults whose depression has not lifted after one or more antidepressant trials.
Treatment-resistant depression is the clinical term for depression that has not responded to two or more adequate antidepressant trials. It is the population for whom Deep TMS was originally cleared and where the evidence is strongest.
BrainsWay's H1 coil reaches roughly 2–3 cm into the brain and stimulates a volume of cortical tissue (~17 cm³) about five to six times larger than the figure-8 coils used by older TMS systems. That broader, deeper field is the mechanistic basis for the higher response and remission rates seen in real-world Deep TMS cohorts.
A standard course is 5 days a week for about 6 weeks (≈30 sessions), followed by tapering visits. The newer accelerated SWIFT protocol — FDA-cleared in September 2025 — compresses the acute phase to 6 days.
FDA status
FDA-cleared (BrainsWay H1, 2013)
Standard protocol at IPMG TMS
5 sessions/week × 6 weeks + taper · or accelerated SWIFT (6 days)
- 82% response · 65% remissionReal-world cohort of 1,753 adults across 21 community clinics, 30 sessions, BrainsWay H1.Tendler et al., Psychiatry Research 2023
- 38% vs 21% (response, vs sham)Original pivotal RCT establishing FDA clearance for the H1 coil in MDD.Levkovitz et al., World Psychiatry 2015
- 88% response (accelerated SWIFT)Multisite non-inferiority RCT of 6-day accelerated H1 iTBS versus standard course.Brain Stimulation 2026 · NCT06357832
Who this is for.
- Adults 22–86 with MDD inadequately responsive to ≥1 antidepressant trial
- Patients with significant medication side effects (sexual, weight, fatigue)
- Patients seeking a non-pharmacologic, non-systemic option
- Patients who tried older figure-8 TMS without success
Eligibility is finalized at consultation. We screen carefully for contraindications — see the Safety page.
Talk with the IPMG TMS team.
A consultation is the right next step. We will review your prior treatments, confirm whether you meet the FDA-cleared criteria for this indication, and walk you through what your insurance covers.