Accelerated TMS Therapy FAQ

If your mental health disorder has not improved despite trying several treatments, accelerated TMS therapy may be the solution for you. To better understand how this new, advanced treatment can help you manage your symptoms, read our accelerated TMS therapy FAQs below.

Q: What is Accelerated TMS?

A: Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is any TMS protocol that delivers more than one TMS treatment a day. Dr. Earthman offers a one day accelerated TMS protocol that involves 20 TMS treatments in one day.

This protocol was developed and tested in the ONE-D study and the results were presented at the 2025 Clinical TMS Society (CTMSS) annual meeting.

So, the ONE-D protocol involves 20 iTBS (theta burst) treatments, one done every 30 min. Each treatment is three min long.

A typical treatment day will start at 8:00 AM and finish by 6:00 PM.

You can drive yourself to and from treatment and resume normal daily activities immediately after the last treatment.

Q: Is the ONE-D protocol safe?

A: Yes, the mild side effects (headache and scalp discomfort) were comparable to standard once a day TMS and there were no serious adverse events.

Q: Is the ONE-D protocol as effective and durable as standard TMS?

A: Yes, the response and remission rates were actually higher than most of the standard TMS studies. Also, the results from the ONE-D protocol were maintained up to 6 months out (probably longer, but that data has not been collected yet).

Q: How soon will I feel better?

A: Most patients see significant improvement within one week and full effects can take up to four weeks.

Q: What if the ONE-D protocol doesn’t work for me?

A: Although no treatment is 100 percent effective, only about 10 percent of patients in the ONE-D protocol did not see significant improvement.

Q: Is the ONE-D protocol covered by insurance?

A: Not at this time, but we can work with you to offer an extended payment plan that is interest free.

Q: How much does the ONE-D protocol cost?

A: Dr. Earthman has negotiated a rate of $5000 for a ONE-D protocol with our parent company Beacon BHP.

Q: What conditions can Accelerated TMS treat?

A: Accelerated TMS is most commonly used for:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Treatment-Resistant Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• OCD (with appropriate devices)

Q: Is accelerated TMS FDA-approved?

A: The single three min iTBS treatment is FDA approved.

The “protocol” of 20 treatments in one day is not currently FDA approved.

Accelerated TMS protocols are generally not FDA approved yet, but have been extensively researched and tested. They are considered “off label” treatments.

Q: What does “off label” mean?

A: “Off label” generally means that a treatment is not specifically FDA approved but the physician believes that the treatment is safe and effective.

For instance, Benadryl is approved for treating allergies but is also commonly used for insomnia and motion sickness “off label”.

Q: Is this the same as the “SAINT” protocol?

A: No, although the SAINT protocol was groundbreaking in the field of TMS, it requires 10 sessions per day done over five days and getting an MRI of the head prior to treatment.

The ONE-D protocol does not require an MRI of the head, is completed in ONE DAY, and is just as safe and effective as the SAINT protocol.

In most cases the cost of the ONE-D protocol is significantly less than the cost of the SAINT protocol.

Still Have Questions About Accelerated TMS Therapy? Contact Us Today

For eligible individuals, accelerated TMS therapy can be life-changing. If you feel as if you have exhausted all of your treatment options, we encourage you to reach out to our team to learn more about this advanced treatment and get the answers to common accelerated TMS therapy FAQs.