Before Treatment
Accelerated dTMS is not appropriate for everyone. The same TMS safety screening applies before an accelerated schedule is considered.
Coverage varies by insurance plan. Because the SWIFT protocol is newer and includes multiple same-day sessions, many plans currently cover only one session per day. Our billing team verifies benefits and discusses available options. If accelerated treatment is not covered, standard dTMS may be covered. Self-pay options are also available.
Acute visits require approximately half a day, with five sessions and required breaks. Standard treatment uses shorter visits across more days and may better fit some patients' routines or stamina.
Fewer clinic days does not mean care ends after two weeks. Four weekly continuation visits and follow-up remain part of the treatment plan.
Questions?
Our team can review treatment fit, scheduling, and next steps.
SWIFT offers outcomes comparable to standard dTMS with fewer days traveling to the clinic. It may make treatment more manageable when work, caregiving responsibilities, transportation, or distance make frequent visits difficult.
For Depression, Including Anxiety Symptoms
If you or someone you care about continues to struggle with depression despite medication or other treatments, another option may help.
Accelerated deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is a non-invasive, office-based treatment for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) whose symptoms have not improved enough with antidepressant medication. It may fit when earlier improvement is important or traveling to the clinic every weekday is difficult.
TMS uses magnetic stimulation to target brain networks involved in mood regulation. BioMental Clinic brings more than 20 years of psychiatric experience and nearly a decade caring for people with treatment-resistant conditions to each coordinated recovery plan.
SWIFT stands for Short-Course With Intrinsic Field Targeting. It condenses standard dTMS into fewer treatment days for adults with Major Depressive Disorder.
In September 2025, the FDA cleared the accelerated BrainsWay protocol for adults with MDD, including those with comorbid anxiety symptoms, after insufficient improvement with antidepressant medication in the current episode.
| Measure | SWIFT | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sessions per day | 5 | 1 |
| Acute schedule | 6 days within 14 | 5 weekdays for about 4 weeks |
| Acute clinic days | 6 | 20 |
| Session length | About 10 min | About 20 min |
| Practical difference | Fewer, longer visits | More, shorter visits |
Treatment schedules may vary based on clinical needs, response, tolerability, and insurance coverage.
Treatment is provided while you remain awake and seated; no anesthesia, surgery, or hospitalization is required. Five approximately 10-minute sessions are scheduled throughout the day, with at least 50 minutes between sessions. During breaks, you may relax, eat, or take a walk while we monitor comfort and tolerability.
Most patients can resume regular activities, including driving, afterward. Individual recommendations may vary based on symptoms, side effects, and the treatment plan.
In the randomized non-inferiority trial, accelerated and standard response rates were 87.8% and 87.5%; remission rates were 78.0% and 87.5%. Median time to remission was 21 and 28 days, respectively. Results vary, and accelerated treatment is not automatically superior.
Accelerated dTMS may be considered for adults with Major Depressive Disorder who have not improved enough with antidepressant medication and want to review a condensed treatment schedule.