Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.
What is TMS used for?
TMS is typically used when standard treatments such as therapy, medication, and self-help techniques have proved ineffective or, in the case of medication, the side effects are too severe. In many European countries, however, TMS is approved for a multitude of other common conditions including:
- Anxiety disorders such as OCD
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Schizophrenia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic pain
- Nicotine addiction
How long is a TMS procedure?
TMS therapy involves a series of treatment sessions. Treatment sessions vary in length depending on the TMS coil used and the number of pulses delivered but typically last around 30 – 40 minutes. Patients receive TMS 5 days a week. A typical course of TMS is 4 to 6 weeks. However, this can vary depending on an individual’s response to treatment.
Who will benefit the most?
Existing evidence to date suggests that patients who are less treatment-resistant respond better to TMS than those who are highly treatment-resistant. However, there is much yet to be learned about particular variables that may impact the response to TMS. Researchers are presently conducting clinical studies to evaluate who will benefit most from TMS therapy. For example, there is a lot of interest in evaluating whether TMS with antidepressant medications is more effective than TMS alone.
Who cannot get TMS therapy?
Patients who have some kind of non-removable metal in their head (exception of braces or dental fillings) should not receive TMS. Failure to comply with this can heat up the object, move the object from a location or cause serious injury or death. The following is a list of metal implants that can prevent a patient from receiving TMS:
- Aneurysm clips or coils
- Stents in the neck or brain
- Deep brain stimulators
- Electrodes to monitor brain activity
- Metallic implants in your ears and eyes
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments in or near the head
- Facial tattoos with metallic or magnetic-sensitive ink
- Other metal devices or object implanted in or near the head