Do the Benefits of rTMS Last?
It’s one thing to feel better after treatment. It’s another thing to stay better. For people living with treatment-resistant depression, that distinction matters.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has already emerged as an effective treatment for depression that hasn’t responded adequately to antidepressant medication. But there’s an important question that often comes next:
How long do the benefits actually last?
Early research has been encouraging. Studies have found that improvements following rTMS can persist for six months or longer, and fewer than 30% of patients in one study relapsed within a year.
That durability is particularly interesting when compared with antidepressant treatment. In one study, fewer than 15% of patients who were treated with medication alone were still showing a positive response 12 months later.
A 2026 study by Dalhuisen and colleagues followed 76 people with moderate-to-severe depression who received either rTMS or medication for eight weeks. The researchers then followed participants for an entire year.
The results were striking.
Every patient in the rTMS group remained stable at the 12-month mark.
Participants also experienced lasting improvements in anhedonia, the inability to feel joy or pleasure, as well as reductions in depression-related anxiety. There was also an added benefit for people who received occasional maintenance or “booster” rTMS sessions.
So, does rTMS keep working after treatment ends?
The evidence so far suggests yes.
The benefits of rTMS appear capable of lasting at least a year, with the possibility that periodic maintenance treatments may help extend those gains even further.
And that staying power could make a meaningful difference.
For someone who has spent years cycling through treatments that haven’t provided lasting relief, sustained improvement isn’t just a number on a research paper. It can mean more good days, better quality of life, fewer health complications, and potentially lower healthcare costs.
rTMS isn’t simply about getting better. It’s about staying better.
And while research is still evolving, the evidence is increasingly encouraging. For many people with treatment-resistant depression, the effects of rTMS can persist well beyond the final treatment session.
Ready to explore Exomind rTMS?
Victoria Memory Clinic focuses exclusively on Exomind rTMS treatment in Victoria, BC. Led by Dr. Ingrid Friesen, our clinical team works with this technology every day, bringing focused experience and individual attention to every consultation and treatment plan.
If you’re curious about whether Exomind may be appropriate for what you’re experiencing, start with a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, talk through your goals and symptoms, and explain what treatment could look like for you.
