Combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review.
Cureus July 1, 2024 Oluwatosin O Arubuolawe, Ibrahim L Folorunsho, Adeniyi K Busari et al. 2 citations
Combining transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with ketamine produces substantial and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms for people with treatment-resistant depression, with higher efficacy than either therapy alone. A review of six studies—three case reports, a retrospective study, a pilot study, and a review—found significant reductions in depression severity and gains in psychosocial functioning. Adverse effects were generally mild and transient, with no severe events reported in most studies. The heterogeneity of study designs and small sample sizes highlight the need for larger randomized controlled trials to standardize protocols and confirm these findings.