--- title: Magnetic Seizure Therapy May Be Effective for Bipolar Depression description: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) may be similarly effective to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treating bipolar depression while offering a lower risk of cognitive side effects. image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brain_waves_iStock-1167735120.jpg --- 5/6/26 2:15 PM # Magnetic Seizure Therapy May Be Effective for Bipolar Depression ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression) ![brain_waves_iStock-1167735120](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brain_waves_iStock-1167735120.jpg?width=220&height=170&name=brain_waves_iStock-1167735120.jpg)Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) may be similarly effective to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treating bipolar depression while offering a lower risk of cognitive side effects, according to a [study](https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250955) published today in *The American Journal of Psychiatry*. MST uses high-frequency and high-intensity magnetic stimulation to elicit therapeutic seizures rather than electrical stimulation.   **Why It’s Relevant** ECT is an established and evidence-based treatment for unipolar and [bipolar depression](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.11a7) but concerns about cognitive side effects as well as lingering stigma have been barriers to its use. MST may be a desirable alternative as magnetic waves can pass through the skull more readily than electricity, reducing the risk of side effects. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated MST’s effectiveness in treating [major depression](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2812444) as well as [bipolar mania](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2817930).   **By the Numbers** - Fifty-five adult patients with bipolar depression received either MST or right unilateral ultra-brief ECT until they had remission, dropped out, or received a maximum of 21 treatments. - Clinically important **worsening in autobiographical memory**—defined as a decline of at least 25% in Autobiographical Memory Test scores—occurred in **six of 27 patients (22.2%) in the ECT group and two of 28 patients (7.1%) in the MST group.** - Forty-five patients completed treatment. Of those,** six of 20 patients (30%) in the ECT group and five of 25 patients (20%) in the MST group achieved remission** according to their scores on the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. **The Other Side** Part of the study was conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the broader effects of pandemic-related social isolation likely influenced clinical outcomes and patient engagement. Further, the sample size wasn’t large enough to conduct a noninferiority analysis that could more definitively compare the treatments.   **Takeaway Message** “While MST may yield somewhat lower remission rates, the cognitive safety profile is a major factor that can impact patient and provider decision making,” the researchers wrote. “[C]onfirmatory research using larger sample sizes is necessary, as well as continued research investigating methods to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of ECT and MST in patients with bipolar depression.”   **Related Information** “[Magnetic Seizure Therapy Found as Effective as ECT](https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.03.3.4)”   **Source** Daniel M. Blumberger, et al. Clinical and cognitive outcomes comparing right unilateral ultrabrief electroconvulsive therapy versus magnetic seizure therapy for bipolar depression: the CORRECT-BD Trial. *The American Journal of Psychiatry*. Published online May 6, 2026. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20250955    (Image: Getty Images/iStock/image_jungle)   [ECT](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ect), [side effects](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/side-effects), [electroconvulsive therapy](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/electroconvulsive-therapy), [memory loss](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/memory-loss), [bipolar depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/bipolar-depression), [magnetic seizure therapy](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/magnetic-seizure-therapy), [MST](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mst) ## Related Posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/thoughtful_teen_iStock-1828586534.jpg?height=200&name=thoughtful_teen_iStock-1828586534.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/adolescents-receiving-magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression-respond-faster-than-adults) ## [Adolescents Receiving Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Depression Respond Faster Than Adults](https://alert.psychnews.org/adolescents-receiving-magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression-respond-faster-than-adults) 1/13/26 4:30 PM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/adolescents-receiving-magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression-respond-faster-than-adults) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brain-blue-iStock-149148235-Jun-24-2025-03-25-23-2283-PM.jpg?height=200&name=brain-blue-iStock-149148235-Jun-24-2025-03-25-23-2283-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/12/magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression.html) ## [Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Depression Found as Effective as ECT](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/12/magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression.html) 6/24/24 11:16 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2023/12/magnetic-seizure-therapy-for-depression.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brain_stimulation_iStock-1358653599.jpg?height=200&name=brain_stimulation_iStock-1358653599.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/ect-and-tms/escitalopram-combo-found-effective-for-suicidal-ideation) ## [ECT and TMS/Escitalopram Combo Found Effective for Suicidal Ideation](https://alert.psychnews.org/ect-and-tms/escitalopram-combo-found-effective-for-suicidal-ideation) 4/17/26 1:33 PM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/ect-and-tms/escitalopram-combo-found-effective-for-suicidal-ideation) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-06T18:15:00.481Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-06T18:15:00.000Z", "headline" : "Magnetic Seizure Therapy May Be Effective for Bipolar Depression", "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brain_waves_iStock-1167735120.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/magnetic-seizure-therapy-may-be-effective-for-bipolar-depression", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg" } } } ```