Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) for Treatment Resistant Major Depression

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient is diagnosed with a major depressive episode (MDE) according to DSM-IV Diagnosis Criteria derived from the SCID. * Patient has not had an acceptable clinical response due to failure (resistance) with at least two treatments from different treatment categories during the current MDE. * Patient has a score ≥ 20 on the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression. * Patient is able to give his informed consent to participate in this study and he is able to fulfill the requirements of the study. * Patient is a male or nonpregnant female adequately protected from conception. Females of childbearing potential must use an acceptable method of birth control. * Convulsive therapy clinically indicated Exclusion Criteria: * Patient currently has a secondary diagnosis of, or signs of, delirium, dementia, amnesia, or other cognitive disorders per DSM-IV. * Patient has had or has currently a diagnosis of non-affective psychotic disorder per DSM-IV. * Patient has had alcohol or substance dependence within the previous 12 months or abuse within the previous six months other than nicotine dependence or abuse. * Patient has a history or diagnosis of clinically relevant cardiac disease. * Patient has a history or diagnosis of clinically relevant injury or disease of the central nervous system. * Patient has magnetic material in the head. * Patient has implanted medical devices such as cardiac pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, medical pumps etc.