For some people considering TMS, the biggest challenge is not the treatment itself. It is finding time for weeks of appointments.
That is one of the reasons Resiliency Mind +Body Medicine added BrainsWay SWIFT, an FDA-cleared Accelerated TMS treatment protocol. SWIFT delivers multiple Deep TMS sessions during the same treatment day, allowing patients to complete the most intensive part of treatment with far fewer trips to the office.
For patients with treatment-resistant depression who want a more time-efficient option, that can make a meaningful difference.
Interested in a shorter TMS treatment schedule? Contact Resiliency Mind + Body Medicine to ask whether Accelerated TMS may be an option for you.
Accelerated TMS at a Glance
- Accelerated TMS delivers multiple sessions in one day.
- Treatment may be completed over days instead of several weeks.
- Some accelerated protocols use intermittent theta-burst stimulation, or iTBS.
- Patients remain awake and do not need anesthesia.
- A shorter schedule does not guarantee faster symptom relief.
- Accelerated TMS may be a cash-pay option depending on the clinic and insurance coverage.
What Is Accelerated TMS Treatment?
Accelerated TMS treatment follows the same basic principle as standard Deep TMS: magnetic pulses stimulate areas and neural networks involved in depression.
The main difference is the schedule.
Standard TMS typically spreads treatment across repeated office visits over several weeks. BrainsWay SWIFT delivers five short sessions during each treatment day, with scheduled breaks between them.
The FDA-cleared SWIFT protocol includes six acute treatment days over a 14-day period, followed by four weekly continuation visits. Each individual treatment session lasts less than 10 minutes.
For patients balancing work, family responsibilities, school or travel, reducing the number of trips to the office can make treatment much easier to manage.
Why Did Resiliency Add SWIFT?
Time is a real barrier to mental health treatment. Resiliency already offers standard Deep TMS, but some patients simply cannot commit to repeated office visits over several weeks.
SWIFT gives those patients another choice.
At Resiliency, it may be particularly appealing to someone who is motivated to pursue TMS but needs a more concentrated schedule and is able to spend longer periods at the office on treatment days. It fits our larger philosophy of giving patients treatment options that work together and can be adapted to their individual circumstances.
Does Accelerated TMS Use Different Technology?
Some accelerated protocols use intermittent theta-burst stimulation, often shortened to iTBS.
iTBS delivers magnetic stimulation in a patterned series of short bursts. Individual sessions can be considerably shorter than conventional repetitive TMS sessions, making it possible to safely schedule multiple treatments throughout the day when an appropriate protocol is followed.
The FDA cleared theta-burst stimulation for depression treatment in 2018, expanding the ways TMS can be delivered.
However, “Accelerated TMS” can refer to different protocols. The number of sessions, spacing between sessions, treatment target, and overall schedule may vary by practice.
Can Accelerated TMS Work in Just a Few Days?
Research into accelerated treatment has produced encouraging results, particularly for treatment-resistant depression.
In a randomized, sham-controlled trial, researchers tested an intensive Stanford-developed protocol that delivered multiple iTBS sessions per day over five days. Patients receiving the active treatment experienced significantly greater improvement in depression symptoms than those receiving sham treatment.
The findings support accelerated TMS as a promising option, but they don’t mean every patient will feel dramatically better within five days. Results can vary based on the protocol, diagnosis, and individual response to treatment.
Does “Accelerated” Mean Faster Results?
Possibly, but this is where the terminology can be confusing.
Accelerated TMS definitely means the full treatment schedule is compressed. What it doesn’t guarantee is exactly when an individual patient will notice improvement.
Some people may experience symptom relief during or shortly after the accelerated treatment period. Others may notice changes gradually over the following days or weeks.
Mental health treatment remains highly individual. Diagnosis, symptom severity, previous treatments and other clinical factors can all influence response.
Who Might Consider Accelerated TMS?
A shorter treatment schedule may appeal to patients who:
- Have difficulty attending daily appointments for several weeks
- Need to travel for treatment
- Have demanding work or family schedules
- Have previously tried antidepressant medications without enough improvement
- Prefer an intensive treatment schedule
- Are comfortable considering a cash-pay option
A psychiatric evaluation is still necessary before beginning treatment. Faster scheduling does not remove the need for proper screening or individualized treatment planning.
Why Is Accelerated TMS Currently a Cash-Pay Option?
This is one of the biggest practical differences between SWIFT and standard TMS.
Insurance coverage has not yet fully caught up with newer accelerated protocols. BrainsWay has noted that broader reimbursement remains an important part of expanding access to SWIFT, while current reimbursement structures limit the number of TMS treatments generally covered in one day.
At Resiliency, that means SWIFT is currently primarily offered as a cash-pay option.
For someone whose insurance covers standard Deep TMS and who can manage the regular schedule, standard treatment may make more financial sense. For another patient, the ability to complete treatment with far fewer office visits may justify the additional cost.
Is Accelerated TMS Safe?
Accelerated protocols are designed around carefully controlled stimulation and scheduled breaks between sessions.
Like standard TMS therapy, common side effects can include headache and scalp discomfort. Patients remain awake throughout treatment and do not typically require sedation or anesthesia.
Your provider should review medications, neurological history, seizure risk and other health considerations before recommending treatment.
Is Accelerated TMS Better Than Standard TMS?
The better question is which treatment schedule fits your needs.
The clinical trial supporting SWIFT found that accelerated Deep TMS produced outcomes comparable to standard treatment.
Standard Deep TMS remains an established treatment option with a longer treatment schedule and broader insurance coverage. Accelerated TMS may offer additional convenience for patients who want to complete treatment in a shorter period and are comfortable with its cost and time commitment during treatment days.
At Resiliency Mind + Body Medicine, Accelerated TMS is an additional option rather than a replacement for standard Deep TMS, Spravato® treatment or medication management.
Could Accelerated TMS Fit Your Treatment Plan?
Resiliency added SWIFT because we wanted patients to have more flexibility in how they pursue effective depression treatment.
For qualifying patients, Accelerated TMS can reduce the number of office visits while providing outcomes comparable to standard Deep TMS. The tradeoff is that the treatment currently comes with more out-of-pocket cost.
The right choice depends on what matters most for your care, schedule and financial situation.
Talk with Resiliency Mind + Body Medicine about whether Accelerated TMS could provide a treatment schedule that better fits your life.