Sacramento Clinic Launches Accelerated Depression Therapy

The new five-day treatment provides an option for adults who have not found relief through standard depression medications.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Mental Health

A close-up of high-tech medical neuro-stimulation equipment in a modern, sterile clinical environment. — UC Davis Health has launched a five-day intensive neuromodulation program in Sacramento for patients facing treatment-resistant depression. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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UC Davis Health has introduced an accelerated neuromodulation treatment for depression at its East Sacramento clinic. The intensive program offers a potential option for patients who have not found relief through conventional medications or psychotherapy.

Why it matters

As depression prevalence has risen 60% over the last decade, nearly one-third of treated patients face treatment-resistant depression. This new five-day protocol provides a novel intervention for those who have exhausted standard care paths.

A Stanford University study reported that 90% of participants experienced relief from severe depression symptoms following the accelerated protocol. It remains unknown how long these clinical improvements persist after the initial five-day treatment course.

The players

UC Davis Health

An academic health system that provides advanced psychiatric services including conventional TMS, esketamine, and electroconvulsive therapy.

Stanford University

A research institution that conducted the primary study on the accelerated neuromodulation therapy protocol.

The details

The program, known as Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT), utilizes fMRI imaging to map each patient’s unique brain connectivity and identify precise treatment targets. The protocol then delivers 10 transcranial magnetic stimulation sessions per day over five consecutive days. This compressed schedule aims to modify neural activity more rapidly than traditional, lower-frequency approaches.

2025: CDC and Gallup recorded that 18.3% of U.S. adults had or were being treated for depression.
July 2026: UC Davis Health launched an electroconvulsive therapy clinic.
October 2026: The clinic introduced the SAINT treatment program in East Sacramento.

Health Landscape

The adoption of Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy represents a shift toward intensive, time-compressed psychiatric interventions for treatment-resistant depression. It expands existing care options that already include conventional TMS, esketamine, and electroconvulsive therapy.

Patients who have not seen sufficient results from traditional antidepressants or psychotherapy may be candidates for this new protocol. Discussing whether advanced neurostimulation is appropriate for your specific psychiatric history is a conversation to have with your physician.

The takeaway

Accelerated neuromodulation offers a new, intensive path for those struggling with treatment-resistant depression. If you are not seeing progress with your current care plan, consider asking your doctor about current advancements in brain stimulation therapies.