(NEWS) SAINT TMS: 5-day therapy brings 50% remission in severe depression

Imagine suffering from severe depression for years. Eight different antidepressants haven't helped—or the side effects were unbearable. Then you undergo a five-day drug-free therapy, and suddenly you feel joy in life again. That's exactly what Valerie Zeko (57) experienced with SAINT TMS (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy). A new study in World Psychiatry shows that 50% of the 24 participants with treatment-resistant depression achieved remission after just five days —compared to 21% in the placebo group. The technique: precise magnetic pulses delivered to the brain to recalibrate neural connections.

What's new?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been around for years – but SAINT is the first personalized, accelerated, and highly precise method. Conventional TMS takes 4-6 weeks with 2-3 sessions per week. SAINT achieves the same in 5 days with 10 sessions of 10 minutes each, daily. The therapy was developed at the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab under the direction of Dr. Nolan Williams (who died in October 2025 at the age of 43). Williams himself suffered from depression and wanted to help people more quickly.

The key: SAINT uses functional MRI scans to identify, individually for each patient, the strongest connection between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (important for emotion regulation) and the deeper subgenual cingulate cortex (associated with depression). Thousands of rapid magnetic pulses are then delivered precisely to this area, strengthening this connection. "We've brought mental health into the same precision medicine as the rest of medicine," says Dr. Brandon Bentzley, lead developer of SAINT.

What exactly does the evidence show?

Study design:

• Study type: Randomized controlled trial (RCT), double-blind

• Population: 48 adults with treatment-resistant depression (≥1 unsuccessful antidepressant therapy)

• Intervention: SAINT TMS (10 sessions of 10 min/day, 5 days) vs. Placebo-TMS (only minimal magnetic field strength)

• Follow-up: 1 month after therapy; additionally, EEG measurements before/after treatment

Key findings:

• Remission after 1 month: 50% (12/24) in SAINT group vs. 20.8% (5/24) in placebo group

• Rapid effect: Many patients reported significant improvement after just 3-4 days.

• EEG findings: SAINT shows reduced beta waves (overactive in depression/anxiety) in the left anterior cingulate cortex. The greater the reduction, the greater the improvement.

• Predictive marker: Patients with higher beta activity before therapy benefited more.

• Side effects: Minimal – some felt slight pressure/pain during the impulses (Valerie Zeko: "like a rubber band snapping"), but very short-lived.

Classification for VMC

SAINT TMS is a game-changer for people for whom antidepressants have failed. Approximately one-third of the 332 million people worldwide with depression have treatment-resistant forms – the more therapies fail, the more hopeless they feel. SAINT offers an evidence-based alternative.

What does that mean for you in practical terms?

• For whom? Treatment-resistant depression (≥1 unsuccessful medication), people with intolerance to antidepressants, or anyone who needs fast help.

• Procedure: Functional MRI scans → 5 days with 10 sessions of 10 minutes each → EEG follow-up

• Availability: Currently 17 clinics in the USA (target: 34 by the end of 2026), only through Magnus Medical or Stanford trials

• Cost: $16,000–$30,000 without insurance; Medicare covers SAINT in hospital outpatient clinics; private insurance companies are still hesitant.

• FDA status: FDA approved since September 2022 for treatment-resistant depression

• Duration of effect: Variable – some patients are in remission for months to years, others need "tune-ups" after 5-6 months.

Valerien Zeko's experience (28 years of depression):

• Before SAINT: "Dense fog in my head", constant negative self-talk, 8 antidepressants unsuccessful, suicidal thoughts of acquaintances understandable.

• After SAINT (November 2023): "I have emerged from the thick fog. Clarity and peace in my mind. No more constant negative chatter."

• Practical: Unpack suitcases immediately (previously left for weeks); enjoy a bike tour across the Golden Gate Bridge (previously: "I can't wait for this to be over")

• Current status (2+ years later): Mild relapses for the last 6 months (possibly due to job loss), attempted to obtain further SAINT treatment (insurance refused)

Limits & open questions

• Limitation 1: Study participants were mostly white, highly educated, with few co-diagnoses → effect unclear in various groups/multiple diagnoses

• Limitation 2: Acutely suicidal patients or those who have attempted suicide in the last year are excluded (for safety reasons) → Comparison with other therapies for suicidality is lacking.

• Limitation 3: Long-term effects vary greatly (a few months to years) – it is unclear who benefits long-term vs. who needs booster shots.

• Limitation 4: Mechanism not yet fully understood – patients who do not respond often have "normal" brain activity (according to MRI/EEG), so depression may have different neurobiological subtypes.

• Limitation 5: A direct comparison with conventional TMS is still lacking (but SAINT appears to be significantly superior in speed/remission rate)

Sources

1. Kratter I, et al. (2026). SAINT for treatment-resistant depression: A randomized controlled trial. World Psychiatry . CNN report

2. Bentzley BS, et al. (2021). Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry , 178(8), 716-726.

3. FDA Clearance: September 2022 (First rapid, noninvasive neuromodulation system for TRD)

4. Magnus Medical: https://magnusmed.com/

⚠️ Important notice:

This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, help is available: Germany: 0800-1110111 (Telephone Counseling Service) | USA: 988 (Crisis Lifeline)