A new approach to treating bipolar disorder (BP) has been discovered through a clinical trial using accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS). Traditionally, theta burst stimulation (TBS) treatments took several weeks, but this new method shortens the treatment period to just five days.
The research study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, was led by Dr. Yvette I. Sheline, an expert in Psychiatry and Behavioral Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr. Sheline mentioned, “aiTBS presents a promising alternative for bipolar disorder patients who do not respond well to medications or suffer from their side effects, while also significantly reducing the treatment duration.”
Intermittent theta burst stimulation is a non-invasive technique that uses a changing magnetic field to generate an electric current in a specific area of the brain through electromagnetic induction. It is believed that this stimulation induces neuroplastic changes that modify brain connectivity and reduce depressive symptoms.
Although aiTBS is already FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder (MDD), this study was the first to explore its accelerated application for bipolar disorder.
Unlike major depressive disorder, which primarily involves depressive symptoms, bipolar disorder also includes manic or hypomanic episodes characterized by racing thoughts, restlessness, or euphoric feelings. Patients with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states.
Common treatments for bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers like lithium and talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
All participants in the study were required to be on a mood stabilizer.
The study involved 24 depressed patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder in a double-blind, sham-controlled setting. The patients underwent aiTBS sessions over five days with 10 sessions per day. The outcomes were assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before and after treatment and at a four-week follow-up.
The data showed a significant decrease in depression symptoms in the group that received active treatment compared to the sham group.
Additional evaluations included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory scores.
Dr. Sheline acknowledged the need for larger trials to replicate the findings due to the study’s small sample size, which is consistent with recent aiTBS studies for MDD.
