The Study Behind the Protocol
This protocol is modeled after the ONE-D study: "One-Day Theta Burst Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression" (Vaughn, Marino, Downar et al., 2025, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Journal).
The trial enrolled 32 patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. All 32 completed the full 20-session day. No serious adverse events were reported.
- Results at six weeks (HDRS-17): 87.5% response rate, 71.9% remission rate
- Results at 12 weeks: 84.4% response rate, 50% sustained remission at 6 months
Response followed a delayed, exponential trajectory peaking at weeks 4–6. This mirrors the biology of neuroplasticity, not the profile of a sedative or stimulant: the brain is rewiring, and that process takes time even after the treatment itself is complete.
A note on the evidence:this is a single, well-designed but early trial with 32 participants. The results are promising and consistent with what's known about TMS and neuroplasticity more broadly, but as with any newer protocol, larger studies are still needed to confirm long-term outcomes across more diverse patients. We are not affiliated with the study authors or their institutions. Our protocol is modeled after their published methodology.
The role of D-cycloserine
Besides compressing the treatment schedule, the researchers looked for other ways to get this treatment to stick.
D-cycloserine (DCS) is an NMDA receptor partial agonist that primes the brain for neuroplasticity. Prior randomized controlled trials showed DCS augmentation increased TMS remission rates from 18% to between 39–75%. The ONE-D protocol administers DCS before each of the 20 sessions, maximizing the plasticity window across the entire treatment day.
This is not a medication in the traditional psychiatric sense. DCS has a long safety record (it was originally developed as an antibiotic) and is used here specifically for its neuroplasticity-enhancing properties, in one low single dose.
TMS isn't a miracle cure — and it isn't meant to work alone
TMS, in any format, changes the brain's activity patterns; it doesn't erase the reasons behind depression, anxiety, or trauma. The patients who do best with TMS are the ones who pair it with an ongoing relationship with a therapist or psychiatrist, rather than treating it as a standalone fix.
We see the one-day Intensive as a way to create a powerful, meaningful shift that then gets reinforced by therapy or medication management with a mental health provider. We'll talk with you about how to fit this into your broader care plan, not instead of it.
If you aren't currently seeing a mental health provider, we can line you up with one. Our team has talk therapy, medication management, and in certain cases, EMDR in house.