A groundbreaking international clinical trial led by researchers from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, lancet psychiatryfound that magnetic seizure therapy (MST) was as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the current gold standard treatment for severe treatment-resistant depression, with significantly fewer cognitive side effects. This study is the first large-scale randomized clinical trial to directly compare MST and ECT, and is an important step toward a new treatment option for patients.
The trial, co-led by Dr. Daniel Blumberger of CAMH and Dr. Zafiris Daskalakis of the University of California, San Diego, was a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study conducted from 2018 to 2024, enrolling nearly 300 participants at three academic centers: CAMH in Toronto, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and the University of California, San Diego. The researchers found that nearly half (48%) of patients in both treatment groups experienced a meaningful clinical response, demonstrating that MST was comparable to ECT in improving depressive symptoms. At the same time, MST demonstrated a significantly better cognitive safety profile, particularly in memory retention.
Although highly effective, ECT is known to cause cognitive side effects such as post-treatment confusion and both short- and long-term memory loss, and these remain a major barrier for patients considering treatment.
“This is a major milestone for the field,” said Dr. Daniel Blumberger, CAMH senior investigator and study co-lead.
Although it has been known for decades that ECT is one of the most effective treatments for severe depression, its use has been limited by cognitive side effects. Our findings show that magnetic seizure therapy can produce similar effects with much less impact on memory, potentially making this type of treatment a more viable option for many people who need it. ”
Dr. Daniel Blumberger, CAMH Senior Researcher
Up to one-third of patients with major depressive disorder do not respond to standard treatments, including medications and psychotherapy. Although ECT can be lifesaving, only a small proportion of eligible patients choose to undergo it, primarily due to concerns about cognitive side effects.
MST works by using magnetic stimulation to induce therapeutic seizures, similar to ECT, but in a more targeted way that avoids areas of the brain associated with memory.
The researchers emphasize that more work is needed to support regulatory approval, training and implementation. However, this discovery laid the groundwork for MST to become a new standard option for patients with severe depression, especially those who may refuse ECT.
“This study is an important first step toward bringing MST into broader clinical use,” added Zafiris Daskalakis, Ph.D., professor and professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and the Igor and Joan Grant Endowed Chair. “If approved and more widely implemented, it could change the way brain stimulation therapy is delivered and significantly improve the patient experience.”
Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, with in-kind support for additional equipment provided by MagVenture.
sauce:
Addiction and Mental Health Center
Reference magazines:
Bluburger, DM; others. (2026). Efficacy and Safety Study of Magnetic Seizure Therapy and Right Unilateral Very Brief Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depression (CREST-MST): A randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial conducted in Canada and the United States. lancet psychiatry. DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(26)00060-x. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00060-X/fulltext.
