Combination therapy with transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: A long-term retrospective review of clinical use

This retrospective clinical review examined the safety and effectiveness of a novel combination therapy—transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with ketamine analgesia (CTK)—for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Twenty-eight patients who had not responded to other treatments received high-output TMS and biomarker-guided ketamine infusions. The study found a significant reduction in depression severity, as measured by the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, which was sustained for two years after treatment. The combination allowed for higher TMS intensities than usual, with no major adverse effects. The authors conclude that CTK can be a promising long-term therapy for TRD.