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 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 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 as well as bipolar mania.
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
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
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