Theta burst stimulation for suicidal ideation in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and protocol moderators.

Psychiatry ResMay 16, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Xin Xia, Xinyi Feng, Chuan Huang et al.

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In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of theta burst stimulation (TBS) on suicidal ideation (SI) and depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. Eighteen studies were included, with 14 contributing to quantitative analysis. TBS significantly reduced SI (SMD = -0.48, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.66, p < 0.001), indicating its potential as a rapid intervention.

Key findings

  • TBS significantly reduced suicidal ideation with a standardized mean difference of -0.48.
  • TBS also significantly decreased depressive symptoms with a standardized mean difference of -0.66.
  • Baseline depression severity moderated the anti-suicidal effects of TBS (β = -2.777, p = 0.007).
  • No serious adverse events were reported during the studies.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that TBS could provide a rapid and effective treatment option for patients experiencing suicidal ideation in the context of major depressive disorder, addressing a critical need for timely interventions.

Source

Published in Psychiatry Res. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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AI-generated summaries may contain errors or omissions. Verify clinically important information with the original publication.

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