UC Davis Health Deploys SAINT Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Dr. Debra Kahn is administering a new magnetic brain stimulation therapy called Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy at the Advanced Psychiatric Therapeutics Clinic, KCRA reported. The treatment targets patients with treatment-resistant depression, a condition where symptoms persist despite multiple medication trials. The technology uses functional MRI scans to map precise brain targets for each patient.
Did you know? Gallup polling from last year showed that the percentage of adults with depression in the United States exceeded 18%, representing an 8% increase over the past ten years. Approximately 30% of those seeking help for depression have cases classified as treatment-resistant.
Deliver ten sessions a day over five days
Unlike traditional magnetic stimulation treatments administered over weeks or months, the SAINT protocol delivers ten sessions a day over five days. Each individual session lasts about nine minutes. The non-invasive procedure utilizes magnetic pulses to stimulate electrical activity in specific areas of the brain.
“The magnetic pulses are stimulating electrical activity in the brain below where we are putting the magnetic pulses,” Dr. Debra Kahn said. “And once the electrical activity is stimulated in the brain, it can cause places to reawaken that have been dormant in depression. It can cause new pathways to be formed where people can think about their problems in new ways and start feeling joy again.”
Show increased energy by the fourth day
Visible improvements from the therapy often emerge within days of starting the protocol. Patients frequently arrive on the first day looking fatigued and pessimistic, but begin showing increased energy and a brighter demeanor by the third or fourth day.
“We will often see people come in their first day looking down, not having slept well, not feeling very optimistic,” Kahn said. “And often, by the end of day three, the beginning of day four, they’re starting to look brighter, have more energy to do things in the time period in between their treatments.”
Clinical observations at the Advanced Psychiatric Therapeutics Clinic indicate that symptom relief can last up to a year, though the clinic has actively administered the therapy for only about two months. A small study conducted at Stanford University reported that 90% of participating patients experienced relief from some symptoms of severe depression following the treatment.
Medicare covers the treatment for qualifying patients
Medicare covers the treatment for qualifying patients who meet specific clinical criteria, and other insurance providers are beginning to authorize coverage. Dr. Kahn noted the contrast between this timeline and traditional pharmaceutical approaches.
“It’s really amazing. Especially after years of prescribing medications that, in the best case scenario, take four weeks to work,” Kahn said. “So having something that can help in such a short period of time with minimal side effects is really it’s heartwarming.”
Common Questions About SAINT Therapy
How does SAINT differ from traditional magnetic stimulation?
Traditional magnetic stimulation applies treatments generally over a period of weeks or months. SAINT uses fMRI scans to map precise brain targets for each individual patient and delivers an accelerated course of ten sessions per day for five days.
What does the treatment feel like for the patient?
Patients experience the procedure as a tapping sensation while magnetic pulses stimulate electrical activity in targeted areas of the brain.
Which patients qualify for insurance coverage?
Medicare covers the procedure for patients who meet established clinical criteria for treatment-resistant depression. Other insurance companies are beginning to cover the therapy through prior authorization processes.
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