Rapid Brain Stimulation Shows Promise for Depression in Autism
Research By: Ernest Pedapati, MD, MS
Post Date: March 1, 2025 | Publish Date: March 2025
MBHI: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry | Top Scientific Achievement
In an open-label clinical trial, accelerated theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (ATBS) demonstrated rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in autistic youth with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD).
Findings were published in March 2025 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Elizabeth Blank was first author and Ernest Pedapati, MD, MS, was corresponding author.
“This research is important because it provides hope for autistic individuals facing severe depression, a group for whom effective treatments are urgently needed,” Pedapati says.
The researchers report that more than half of participants achieved remission at 12 weeks post-treatment. Notably, the therapy proved effective regardless of stimulation site, and unilateral stimulation was associated with fewer side effects than bilateral approaches.
Meanwhile, another study involving the same cohort reports that prefrontal TMS also improved cognitive flexibility among the participants. These findings, led by first author Rana Elmaghraby, MD, were published in May 2025 in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
“These findings suggest ATBS could offer a safer, faster alternative to traditional antidepressant medications or psychotherapy, especially for individuals who have not responded to standard treatments,” Pedapati says.
Next steps for the research include conducting larger, sham-controlled studies to further validate the results. The team also plans to refine stimulation protocols to better address the unique challenges faced by autistic populations, such as sensory sensitivities and the need for multi-informant assessments.
About the study
Cincinnati Children’s co-authors in the depression study also included Donald Gilbert, MD, MS, Steve Wu, MD, Travis Larsh, MD, Rana Elmaghraby, MD, Rui Liu, PhD, Elizabeth Smith, PhD, Grace Westerkamp, BS, Yanchen Liu, MS, Paul Horn, PhD, Ethan Greenstein, BA, John Sweeney, PhD, and Craig Erickson, MD.
Funding sources for this work included grants from the NIH and support from the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation.
The co-authors also recognized the passing of co-author, Dr. Sweeney. “We include him as a co-author to acknowledge his valuable contributions and to honor his commitment to advancing our understanding of autism and developmental disorders.”
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| Original title: | Accelerated Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Refractory Depression in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Published in: | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
| Publish date: | March 2025 |
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The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Email researchnews@cchmc.org with questions or ideas.
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