LifeStance Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression See Clinically Meaningful Improvement in Symptoms After Esketamine or TMS Treatment, New Data Shows

The separate analyses covered 258 esketamine patients and 355 TMS patients, with outcomes measured after different treatment intervals.

Rhea-AI Summary

LifeStance Health (LFST) is expanding specialty depression services after separate observational analyses found symptom improvements among patients receiving esketamine or TMS. Among 258 esketamine patients, 74% experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in depression severity after 12 weeks. Among 355 patients receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), 61% achieved that improvement after at least 30 sessions. Both analyses used the Patient Health Questionnaire, a depression symptom measure.

Nearly daily suicidal ideation fell from 13% to 2% among esketamine patients and from 13% to 6% among TMS patients. These observational findings describe the patients analyzed and do not guarantee individual outcomes. Compared with Q3 2025, specialty-service locations increased from 33 to 69; esketamine availability expanded from 4 to 18 states and TMS from 11 to 22. LifeStance plans further expansion in existing and new markets in 2027.

8 points · 0 major

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0 major · 1 point

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Moderate pointSpecialty-service locations increased from 33 to 69 compared with Q3 2025.
• Moderate pointEsketamine availability expanded from 4 to 18 states compared with Q3 2025.
• Moderate pointTMS availability expanded from 11 to 22 states compared with Q3 2025.
• Minor pointEsketamine analysis: 74% of 258 patients had clinically meaningful depression improvement after 12 weeks.
• Minor pointTMS analysis: 61% of 355 patients had clinically meaningful depression improvement after at least 30 sessions.

3 minor points

• Minor pointEsketamine patients reporting nearly daily suicidal ideation decreased from 13% to 2% following treatment.
• Minor pointTMS patients reporting nearly daily suicidal ideation decreased from 13% to 6% following treatment.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.LifeStance plans further specialty-service expansion in existing and new markets in 2027.

Negative

• Minor pointClinical findings are observational, describe the patients analyzed and do not guarantee individual outcomes.

Key Figures

Clinically meaningful symptom reduction: 74% Suicidal ideation reduction: 85% Analysis patients: 258 patients +3 more

Clinically meaningful symptom reduction

74%

Esketamine treatment after 12 weeks

Suicidal ideation reduction

85%

After esketamine treatment

Analysis patients

258 patients

Esketamine analysis

Clinically meaningful symptom reduction

61%

TMS after at least 30 treatment sessions

Suicidal ideation reduction

50%

After TMS treatment

Analysis patients

355 patients

TMS analysis

Key Terms

esketamine, transcranial magnetic stimulation, treatment-resistant depression, phq-9, +1 more

5 terms

esketamine medical

"LifeStance Expands Specialty Services, Increasing Access to Esketamine (Spravato)"

A prescription medication that is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, used under medical supervision to treat severe, treatment-resistant depression and acute suicidal thoughts. Administered in controlled settings (often as a nasal spray or intravenous infusion), it acts quickly on brain chemistry compared with traditional antidepressants. It matters to investors because regulatory approvals, patent protection, pricing, and clinic access shape potential revenue, safety liability, and market adoption—similar to how a new, fast-acting tool can change demand in an established toolbox.

transcranial magnetic stimulation medical

"and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Across the U.S."

A noninvasive medical treatment that uses a changing magnetic field delivered through a coil placed near the head to stimulate specific areas of the brain, much like tapping a piano key to make a particular note play. Investors care because devices, clinical trial results, insurance coverage, and regulatory approvals determine commercial adoption and revenue potential for makers of the machines, clinics that offer the therapy, and related healthcare suppliers.

treatment-resistant depression medical

"patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving either esketamine or TMS."

A form of major depression that does not improve after a person has tried standard treatments such as common antidepressant medications and therapy; think of it as a stubborn problem that doesn’t respond to the usual fixes. It matters to investors because it represents a large unmet medical need and a higher-risk, higher-reward area for drug developers, with potential for premium pricing, regulatory scrutiny, and durable demand if an effective new therapy is approved.

phq-9 medical

"using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which measures depression symptom severity"

A nine-question survey used by clinicians and researchers to screen for depression and track its severity over time, with each item scored and summed to give a single, easy-to-interpret result. Investors pay attention to PHQ-9 scores because they often serve as clinical trial endpoints or real-world outcome measures — like a mood thermometer showing whether a treatment is working — and those results can influence regulatory decisions, label claims and commercial prospects.

suicidal ideation medical

"Before treatment, 13% of patients reported suicidal ideation nearly every day."

Suicidal ideation is when a person thinks about, plans, or imagines ending their own life; it ranges from fleeting thoughts to specific plans. For investors, reports of suicidal ideation matter because they can signal serious safety, regulatory, legal, workforce or reputational risks for healthcare products, services or employers—like a dashboard warning light that can prompt investigations, product changes, recalls, litigation or shifts in public trust.

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LifeStance Expands Specialty Services, Increasing Access to Esketamine (Spravato) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Across the U.S.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeStance Health, one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, is expanding access to two specialty services for treatment-resistant depression – esketamine¹ (Spravato) and transcranial magnetic stimulation² (TMS) – as separate analyses show meaningful reductions in depression symptoms and suicidal ideation among patients receiving each treatment. 

Patients with treatment-resistant depression experience persistent depressive symptoms and increased risk of suicidality despite adequate trials of conventional antidepressant medications and/or evidence-based psychotherapies. On average, these patients spend 571 days in a depressive episode and experience significant impacts to daily functioning and quality of life.

LifeStance analyzed outcomes for patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving either esketamine or TMS. In both analyses, their progress was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which measures depression symptom severity over time.

For LifeStance patients receiving esketamine:

• 74% of patients experienced a clinically meaningful³ reduction in depression severity after 12 weeks of treatment.
• Before treatment, 13% of patients reported suicidal ideation nearly every day. Following treatment, that figure decreased to 2%, reflecting an 85% reduction.
• The analysis included 258 LifeStance patients.

For LifeStance patients receiving TMS:

• 61% of patients experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in depression severity after completing at least 30 treatment sessions.
• Before treatment, 13% of patients reported suicidal ideation nearly every day. Following treatment, that figure decreased to 6%, reflecting a 50% reduction.
• The analysis included 355 LifeStance patients.

These observational results describe the patients included in the analyses and do not guarantee individual outcomes. However, the data supports that these evidence-based treatment options may benefit appropriate patients – even those who have struggled to find sufficient relief through previous treatment.

The need for specialty treatment options like esketamine and TMS is significant. In the U.S., treatment-resistant depression affects about 30% of people diagnosed with major depressive disorder, or 2.8 million people, according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. LifeStance estimates approximately 139,000 of its adult patients experienced treatment-resistant depression in the past year, representing a substantial population that may benefit from additional evidence-based options when conventional treatments have not provided sufficient relief. This is equivalent to 28% of all LifeStance patients with depression and roughly 14% of the more than one million total patients the organization serves annually.

LifeStance is significantly expanding access to both treatments. Compared to Q3 2025, LifeStance has more than doubled the number of locations offering specialty services, from 33 to 69, with esketamine expanding from 4 to 18 states and TMS from 11 to 22 states. It plans to continue expanding the in-market and new market specialty services footprint substantially in 2027.

"For patients with treatment-resistant depression, not finding relief from previous treatments does not mean they are out of options," said Dr. Stephanie Eken, Chief Medical Officer, LifeStance Health. "The improvements we're seeing at LifeStance with esketamine and TMS offer new hope for patients who have continued to struggle, including those experiencing the most severe symptoms and suicidal ideation. Too many patients are still waiting for relief when there are effective, evidence-based treatment options that may help. We're committed to expanding access to these specialty services so more patients have the opportunity to receive the most effective treatments tailored to their individual clinical needs."

LifeStance's complete esketamine and TMS outcomes reports are available at LifeStance.com.

As part of its commitment to clinical excellence, LifeStance publishes clinical outcomes data regularly, using measurement-based care to track patient progress throughout treatment. These analyses follow earlier 2026 reports on depression and anxiety treatment outcomes among more than 180,000 patients and outcomes across generations and geographic regions.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ approximately 8,500 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 35 states and more than 550 centers.

Statements in this press release and on the related teleconference that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: our plans with respect to specialty services and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release and on the related teleconference, words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "intend," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "target," "predict," "project," "seek" and similar expressions as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events and results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements.

¹Esketamine (Spravato) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for adults with treatment-resistant depression, used with or without an antidepressant. It is administered in-person under clinician supervision, typically twice weekly for four weeks, followed by weekly or every-other-week maintenance treatment.
²TMS is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression. It is a form of brain stimulation that targets areas involved in mood regulation, often used after patients have tried multiple antidepressants and psychotherapy without sufficient relief.
³Clinically meaningful improvement is defined as a PHQ-9 severity score reduction of five or more points.

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SOURCE LifeStance Health

FAQ

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What did LifeStance Health's esketamine and TMS analyses show for depression symptoms?

Clinically meaningful reductions in depression severity occurred in 74% of 258 esketamine patients after 12 weeks and 61% of 355 TMS patients after at least 30 sessions. These were separate observational analyses using the Patient Health Questionnaire to measure depression symptoms.

How is LifeStance Health expanding esketamine and TMS services?

LifeStance increased specialty-service locations from 33 to 69 compared with Q3 2025. Esketamine availability expanded from 4 to 18 states, while TMS expanded from 11 to 22 states. The company plans further expansion in existing and new markets in 2027.