What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment that directs recurring magnetic energy pulses at the specific regions of the brain that are involved in mood control. These magnetic pulses pass painlessly through the skull and stimulate brain cells which can improve communication between different parts of the brain. When these TMS pulses are delivered at regular intervals it is known as repetitive TMS (or rTMS). Exactly how TMS works is unclear, but the stimulation seems to have a lasting effect on how the brain functions, which can ease depression symptoms and treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and cigarette addiction.
Magnetic pulses going into your brain might sound scary or even conjure up images of “shock therapy” portrayed in movies such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. However, the pulses used in TMS therapy are actually the same type and strength as the magnetic pulses used in MRI machines and are considered very safe. And unlike electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), TMS doesn't require any kind of sedation or post-therapy downtime, and comes without any memory or cognition side effects. In fact, for most people TMS has fewer side effects than antidepressant medications.
What is TMS used for?
In the United States, transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy has been approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder, certain types of migraine headaches, and, more recently, OCD and smoking cessation. While depression is a treatable condition, 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:
TMS has even shown promise in off-label treatment of conditions such as tinnitus, fibromyalgia, Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis.
TMS for depression
Depression can take a heavy toll, changing how you think, feel, and function in your daily life. While many people are able to gain relief through self-help, therapy, medication, or a combination of these treatments, for others the sense of hopelessness never lets up.
If you’re suffering from major depression that’s proven resistant to other treatment, then transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy may be an option. Just as antidepressant medication aims to stimulate your brain chemically, TMS does the same using magnetic fields.
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Effectiveness of TMS for depression
Most published trials have yielded results supporting the use of TMS to improve cases of treatment-resistant depression. For people with major depression that hasn’t benefited from medication, just over half experience improvements in their symptoms with TMS, while about one in three gain total remission from their symptoms.
That doesn’t mean that TMS is a cure for depression and that your depression symptoms won’t return, though. In fact, the positive results from transcranial magnetic stimulation tend to last for an average of about a year after treatment.
However, it’s important to remember that depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance but is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. In other words, your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills likely contribute to your depression just as much as your genetics. Therefore, you can use the improvements in your energy and drive following TMS therapy to begin talk therapy or make the lifestyle changes—such as improving your diet, exercising, and building your support network—that can help preserve your depression recovery in the long term. See Coping with Depression.
TMS for OCD
If you have OCD, you experience obsessive thoughts that stir your anxiety. Then, you feel compelled to take actions to relieve that anxiety. However, that relief is short-lived, and you end up in a repetitive and often time-consuming loop.
For example, an intense fear of contamination might lead you to wash your hands again and again in a short period of time. Even if you recognize the fear and your response as irrational, it's difficult to escape the cycle.
TMS may provide relief from these symptoms as well. The treatment stimulates the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex—two parts of the brain involved in OCD—without any adverse or long-term side effects.
Effectiveness of TMS on OCD
A 2019 study, which was conducted at 11 medical centers over the course of six weeks, showed that Deep TMS is effective in improving OCD symptoms. Improvements lasted at least a month after the sessions ended.
You can choose to combine TMS treatment with self-help measures that also ease OCD symptoms. For example, you might practice identifying and challenging obsessive thoughts. Or you might try to drop habits that worsen anxiety, such as smoking and drinking. These additional measures may further decrease your symptoms and help you achieve more lasting relief. For more information and self-help tips, see Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
TMS for quitting smoking
Smoking cigarettes can lead to all sorts of health problems, including an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and cancer. Despite those consequences, millions of people regularly smoke cigarettes and struggle to quit due to nicotine's addictive nature. Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness, can make quitting seem even more daunting.
TMS for smoking addiction aims electromagnetic pulses at the bilateral insula and prefrontal cortex, regions of the brain that play a role in addiction. The noninvasive process might help you manage your intense cravings to smoke cigarettes.
Effectiveness of TMS on smoking addiction
Multiple studies show TMS to be an effective option for smokers looking to quit. A study published in 2021 indicated that repetitive TMS can significantly reduce cigarette cravings, even in individuals who have tried and failed to quit smoking multiple times in the past. During the study, those who underwent TMS treatment were more likely to smoke fewer cigarettes and reach a smoking cessation of four consecutive weeks than those who didn't receive the treatment.
Additional self-help measures, such as learning to anticipate and avoid triggers and manage withdrawal symptoms, might help you achieve greater results. See How to Quit Smoking.
Types of TMS devices
A variety of TMS systems are available, including:
Surface transcranial magnetic stimulation (surface TMS) devices use a figure-of-8 magnetic coil which can penetrate 0.6 inches under the skull to reach specific brain regions.
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) devices use a larger H-coil which allows the magnetic energy to penetrate deeper into the brain, up to 1.6 inches below the skull.
Rapid TBS (theta burst) therapy devices are considered just as safe and effective for the treatment of major depressive disorder as standard TMS, but these devices require sessions of just 3-6 minutes rather than the 20-40 minutes required by most TMS devices.
There are also simple brain stimulation devices that have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use at home. However, these are not strictly TMS devices. Rather, they’re classed as Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) units which use electric currents instead of magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain. The true effectiveness of these devices seems to be up for debate. As with any medical treatment for mental health, it’s important to discuss the best options with your doctor.
What to expect during TMS treatment
TMS is a relatively short, noninvasive, outpatient treatment. That means that it doesn’t involve surgery, there’s no anesthesia or sedation required, and no down time needed afterwards. You stay awake and alert throughout the treatment. TMS therapy is also non-systemic, which means that it has no effect on other areas of your body as antidepressants can.
TMS treatment will vary depending on what condition it's designed to manage. For example:
- A potential dTMS treatment for depression may involve 20 sessions within four weeks, and then drop to 10 sessions spread over the course of five additional weeks.
- A dTMS treatment for OCD will likely start with a prep session, during which experts will work with you to develop custom provocations to trigger your symptoms and activate specific regions of your brain. Then, the treatment could involve more than 20 sessions over the course of six weeks.
- A dTMS treatment for addiction may also involve a provocation prep session, followed by several weeks of treatment. You might find that your cravings decrease within the first few weeks of treatment, but the remaining treatments help to reinforce that drop in cravings.
A TMS session generally lasts 20 to 40 minutes, although some new devices require sessions as short as three minutes.
During TMS treatment
During your TMS treatment, the clinician will seat you in a comfortable chair, provide you with earplugs, and then place a magnetic coil on your head, near the area of the brain thought to be involved in mood regulation. In the case of depression, this area is the prefrontal cortex beneath your forehead.
Short electromagnetic pulses are then administered through the coil. The magnetic pulses easily pass through your skull, and cause small electrical currents that stimulate nerve cells.
- You'll hear clicking sounds and feel a knocking, tapping, or tingling sensation on your head.
- You may feel some scalp discomfort during the treatment and for a short time afterward.
After TMS treatment
After TMS treatment is complete, you’re able to go straight back into your day, drive back to work or home, and continue on as normal.
TMS risks and side effects
Unlike the oldest brain stimulation therapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), TMS has no effect on memory or mental clarity. It also avoids the negative side effects of sedation required for ECT. While TMS isn’t totally free of side effects, the most commonly occurring are mild, usually headaches and scalp discomfort. While about half of TMS patients report headaches, they typically respond well to over-the-counter pain medication and tend to diminish over the course of treatment.
About a third of patients report painful scalp sensations or facial twitching during the magnetic pulses, which also tend to diminish over the course of the treatment. Repositioning the coil and adjusting the stimulation settings can also help to reduce these mild side effects.
The most serious risk of TMS is the possibility of producing a seizure—but the risk is very small at around .001%. While there have been only a few documented cases of seizures occurring due to TMS treatment, if you have a high risk of seizure—if you have epilepsy or a history of head injury, for example—then you’re unlikely to be a candidate for TMS.
Long-term effects
TMS has been approved in the U.S. since 2008 and so far, there are no reported lasting negative effects associated with the treatment.
However, it is important to remember that this treatment is relatively young, so there simply has not been enough time to study the long-term effects. With time and more research, understanding of the long-term effects will improve.
Who cannot get TMS
In addition to those with epilepsy or a family history of seizures, TMS is not suitable for several other types of patients. Since TMS uses magnetic energy, people who have metal in their head or neck are not able to receive TMS, with the exception of braces or dental fillings.
Examples of metal objects that would prevent TMS treatment include:
- Aneurism clips
- Stents
- Deep brain stimulators
- Metallic ear/eye implants
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments
- Pacemakers
Other factors that may preclude you from receiving TMS therapy include:
- A history of other mental health disorders, such as substance misuse or psychosis.
- Brain damage from illness or injury, such as a brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, or stroke.
Last updated or reviewed on October 11, 2023
