Comparative efficacy and cognitive safety of magnetic seizure therapy and electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) show comparable efficacy in treating major depressive disorder (MDD).
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MST demonstrates superior cognitive safety, preserving cognitive function better than ECT and reducing adverse events like memory loss.
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MST enables faster reorientation compared to ECT, with a significant difference in reorientation time.
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Sensitivity analysis suggests ECT may have a slight edge in depression score changes, warranting cautious interpretation of results.
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The findings support MST as a viable alternative for MDD patients, particularly when cognitive side effects are a primary concern.

Frontiers In Psychiatry

by Kaipeng Fan, Xuekang Niu, Jun Zhao, Guohao Lin, Jiayang Qu, Qiaoqiao Wang, Lin Li
June 17, 2026

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