Accelerated TMS

ACCELERATED TMS

An Intensive TMS Course Delivered Over a Compressed Treatment Schedule Traditional TMS is generally delivered once each weekday over several weeks. Accelerated TMS takes a different approach by administering multiple treatment sessions during the same day, separated by planned intervals.

At CNY Psychiatry, our accelerated TMS program consists of 50 treatment sessions delivered over a compressed treatment course. This intensive approach was influenced by the accelerated neuromodulation research that led to protocols such as Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT), now known as Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT).

The goal is to deliver a substantial course of neuromodulation over a much shorter calendar period than conventional once-daily TMS.

HOW IS THIS RELATED TO SAINT/SNT?

The SAINT/SNT approach combines multiple daily sessions of intermittent theta-burst stimulation with a high cumulative treatment dose and individualized neuroimaging-based targeting.

CNY Psychiatry’s accelerated program shares the concept of delivering an intensive 50-session treatment course over a compressed period of time.

WHY 50 TREATMENTS?

One of the important ideas emerging from accelerated TMS research is that acceleration does not simply mean taking a conventional course and performing it faster. Treatment dose, number of sessions, spacing between sessions, stimulation pattern, and treatment target may all influence the biological and clinical effects of treatment.

Our accelerated program therefore uses a 50-session treatment course rather than simply shortening a conventional schedule.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES?

A compressed schedule may make TMS more feasible for patients who live outside Central New York, have demanding work or family responsibilities, have difficulty attending daily treatment for several weeks, are traveling specifically for treatment, or prefer an intensive schedule when clinically appropriate.

There may also be clinical advantages to intensive accelerated stimulation, and this remains an active area of research. We do not promise that accelerated treatment will produce better results than conventional TMS for every patient.

EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATED TMS AT CNY PSYCHIATRY

CNY Psychiatry was among the early practices in New York State to offer accelerated TMS.

We introduced accelerated treatment because we believed the emerging science of intensive neuromodulation was important enough to follow, and potentially valuable enough to responsibly incorporate into clinical practice.

Our approach has continued to evolve as the scientific literature has evolved.

Innovation should never mean simply adopting something because it is new. It means following the evidence closely enough to recognize when a new approach may offer patients a meaningful advantage.

IS ACCELERATED TMS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE?

No.

A 50-session accelerated course represents a substantial treatment commitment compressed into a short period of time. Conventional TMS may remain preferable for some patients, while accelerated treatment may offer important advantages for others.

The objective is not to provide the fastest treatment. It is to select the treatment strategy that makes the most sense for the individual patient.