The Scania Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Implementation Study (SATIS)
Author Information
Author(s): Marcus Persson, Viktor Fabri, Alexander Reijbrandt, Annika Lexén, Hans Eriksson, Pouya Movahed Rad
Primary Institution: University Psychiatric Department, Helsingborg, Sweden
Hypothesis
The study aimed to investigate the tolerability, preliminary effectiveness, and practical feasibility of an accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aTBS) protocol in treating depression.
Conclusion
The SATIS study provided insights into the potential benefits and challenges of aTBS protocols, showing comparable effectiveness to conventional treatments but with a faster response time.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients reported adverse events, primarily headaches, but they were generally transient.
- MADRS scores decreased significantly from baseline to after treatment.
- 25% of patients met response criteria with a mean time to response of 2.2 days.
Takeaway
This study tested a new way to treat depression using brain stimulation, and while it helped some people feel better quickly, it also showed that more resources were needed than expected.
Methodology
An open-label observational design was used, recruiting 20 patients from two public brain stimulation centers in Sweden, with assessments of symptoms and side effects during and after treatment.
Potential Biases
The inclusion of a heterogeneous patient population may introduce variability that obscures treatment effects.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and lacked a control group, limiting the ability to generalize findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 19-84, with a mix of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and persistent depressive disorder.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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