A Veteran’s 5-Day Path to Remission with SAINT®

Key Takeaways

• With approximately 17 U.S. veterans dying by suicide each day, there is an urgent need for depression interventions that work faster and more effectively than traditional methods.¹
• While Major Depressive Disorder affects over 21 million U.S. adults, an estimated one-third of people living with depression do not achieve relief through antidepressant medications alone.²
• Standard transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) often requires up to 36 clinic visits over six to eight weeks, yet many studies show remission rates of only around 30%.³
• SAINT (neuromodulation) represents a paradigm shift in brain health, delivering personalized treatment in just five days with clinical trials showing an 79%⁴ to 90%⁵ remission rate.
• By using fMRI to map each individual’s unique brain connectivity, SAINT moves away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach to provide targeted, data-driven relief for treatment-resistant depression.

At Magnus Medical, we meet many people who have spent years fighting depression. Among them are veterans who have already sacrificed so much, yet still find themselves battling an invisible enemy long after their service ends.

This is the story of Alan S., a 100% Service-Connected USAF veteran whose depression was documented for years in his Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) record. He completed five days of SAINT® Depression Therapy and, within 1–2 weeks, the depressive weight was gone. Before that, the VA cycled him through sertraline, fluoxetine, venlafaxine XR, duloxetine, bupropion XL, mirtazapine, and most recently trazodone—none produced durable remission.

The Search for a Solution for Depression

Depression had been part of Alan’s life for years and was well documented in his VA medical record. He had been prescribed several antidepressants, but none offered the kind of steady relief he hoped for. On top of that, some antidepressant medications caused side effects that made daily life more difficult or uncomfortable.

What he remembers most clearly is how the medications affected his thinking, often making him feel foggy and not fully himself. For someone with a background in law enforcement and ongoing civic involvement, that lack of sharpness was more than an inconvenience. It affected how he saw himself and how he moved through the world.

“Medication wasn’t fixing the problem for me,” he explained.

Alan had looked into standard transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), but the 6-8 week treatment schedule and relatively modest success rate did not fit his needs. The scientific approach behind SAINT, along with the shorter and more focused treatment schedule, made much more sense to him. He told us, “As a former USAF Security Police Specialist, I was trained to make decisions and act under pressure. What hurt most was initiation and focus—tasks that should take an hour could take two days. SAINT’s five-day, fcMRI-guided iTBS offered precise targeting and a timeline that matched the urgency I felt.”

• Standard TMS usually requires six to eight weeks of daily sessions and has a 17%⁶-30%³ remission rate.
• SAINT is delivered over five days and has shown up to 90%⁵ remission rate in studies.

The combination of innovative neuroscience, precision targeting, and a faster timeline felt aligned with the urgency of his situation.

A Fight for Access to Treatment

Finding SAINT was only part of Alan’s journey. Getting access to it through the VA was another challenge entirely. He described this process in detail:

“Getting the treatment approved through the VA took about two months. In New Orleans, Dr. Erik Kinzie (VA Mental Health) reviewed my materials and discussed them with three VA psychiatrists. The VA then authorized treatment through Community Care, and I received SAINT at LSU/LCMC Health with Magnus support. I also sent detailed letters to VA leadership, Community Care, LSU leadership, and my Senator to keep the process moving.”

Navigating Care: How Veterans Can Access SAINT Therapy

One of the biggest challenges for veterans living with depression is not just finding a treatment that works, but finding a path to access it. Whether receiving primary care through the VA or private insurance, understanding your options is the first step toward remission.

Accessing Care Through the VA Community Care Network (CCN)

If the SAINT protocol is not currently available at your local VA facility, you may still be able to receive treatment through a private provider. Under the VA Community Care program, veterans are often eligible for outside care if:

• The VA cannot provide the specific treatment required (such as fMRI-guided neuromodulation).
• Wait times for an appointment at a VA facility exceed 20 to 28 days.
• The distance to the nearest VA facility offering the service is more than a 30- to 60-minute drive.

To start this process, speak to a VA primary care provider or mental health team about a referral for “SAINT neuromodulation.”

The Mission of Precision: Why a Referral Matters

Because SAINT is a precision-guided “brain health” technology—rather than a systemic medication—it is categorized as a specialized medical procedure. When requesting a referral, it is helpful to provide the care team with the following clinical data:

• Targeted Relief: SAINT is FDA-cleared specifically for adults who have not seen success with prior antidepressant medications.
• Time Efficiency: For veterans who often suffer from severe depression that hasn’t improved with other treatments, SAINT may help them find relief rapidly. A published open label study showed participants remitted from their depression symptoms in an average of 2.6 days⁵.
• Clinical Efficacy: Remission rates in a randomized control trial for SAINT reached 79%⁴, a significant increase over the 17%⁶ typically seen with standard TMS.

Private Insurance and TRICARE

For veterans with TRICARE or private employer-based insurance, coverage for neuromodulation varies across insurers. Adoption of SAINT-specific coding within commercial payer coverage is emerging, with some plans beginning to evaluate coverage through prior authorization and medical necessity review. Coverage policies and requirements continue to evolve by payer.

Profound Results in Five Days with SAINT Depression Therapy

Alan finally completed his five day SAINT treatment at LCMC under Dr. McGee’s care. During treatment, he noticed subtle changes and about one to two weeks later, he realized his depression was no longer there.

“The constant depressive weight I had lived with was gone,” he said.

While he still has normal daily stresses, he no longer becomes depressed because of them. His loved ones immediately noticed he was “calmer, more even, and more focused,” he continued. SAINT did not erase his problems but “it changed how my brain responds to them.” He is now working with his providers at the VA to refocus care away from depression treatment.

Published with permission. Name abbreviated to protect privacy.

FAQs

Does the VA cover SAINT neuromodulation? 

While many VA medical centers offer standard TMS, SAINT therapy may be accessed through the VA Community Care Network (CCN). If your local VA facility does not offer it, you may be eligible for a referral to a community provider. This allows you to receive the 5-day SAINT treatment if you meet eligibility requirements such as drive-time or wait-time standards.

Is SAINT therapy covered by TRICARE? 

TRICARE does not currently have a coverage policy in place for SAINT. We recommend working with your provider through the prior authorization process to submit medical necessity documentation supporting the treatment request.

How is SAINT different from the TMS I see at the VA?

Standard TMS at the VA typically involves 20-30 minute sessions, once a day, for 6 weeks, with remission rates often cited around 30%³. The SAINT protocol is a specialized evolution of this technology. It uses functional MRI brain mapping to personalize the target to your unique brain connectivity and condenses the treatment into just five days. In clinical trials, this accelerated approach achieved a 79% remission rate⁴ among trial participants, all which did not achieve satisfactory results from 5-6 antidepressants on average.

What does the 5-day treatment schedule look like for a veteran? 

The SAINT protocol is intensive but non-invasive. You will spend five consecutive days at the clinic, receiving ten 10-minute sessions per day with 50-minute breaks in between. During these breaks, many veterans relax, read, or catch up on work in the clinic’s patient lounge. Because there is no anesthesia or “recovery time” required, you are able to drive yourself to and from the clinic each day.

Are there side effects that would interfere with my daily life or VA disability? 

Unlike oral medications that can cause systemic side effects like weight gain, fatigue, or “emotional blunting,” SAINT is a targeted “brain health” treatment. The most common side effects are mild, temporary scalp discomfort or a light headache during the stimulation. These typically resolve quickly and do not interfere with your daily routine or impact your VA disability status.

I have shrapnel or a medical implant; can I still receive SAINT? 

Safety is our first priority. Because SAINT uses magnetic pulses and begins with an fMRI scan, it may not be suitable for veterans with certain non-removable metal implants in or near the head (such as shrapnel, aneurysm clips, or cochlear implants). During your initial consultation, a provider will carefully review your medical and service history to ensure the protocol is safe for you.

1 Miller, M. (2024, December 19). VA releases 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. VA News. https://news.va.gov/137221/va-2024-suicide-prevention-annual-report/
2 Pharmacological approaches to the challenge of treatment-resistant depression. (2015). Treatment of Affective Dysfunction in Challenging Contexts, 17(2), 111–126. https://doi.org/10.31887/dcns.2015.17.2/dionescu
3 Kelly, M. S., et al (2016). Initial Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment for Depression Predicts Subsequent Response. Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 29(2), 179–182. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.16100181
4 Cole, E. J., et al (2022). Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT): A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 179(2). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.20101429
5 Cole, E.J., et al (2020). Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(8), 716–726. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19070720
6 Hsu, J H (2019). Impact of prior treatment on remission with intermittent theta burst versus high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment resistant depression. Brain Stimulation, 12(6), 1553–1555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.07.011