What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or Brain Stimulation (TMS) Therapy?

The brain is an organ that functions through electrical impulses transmitted by neurons. In some cases or diseases, electrical impulses in different parts of the brain are disrupted. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or TMS, is used to treat these disorders through external intervention.

What is the mechanism of action of TMS and how is it applied?

TMS is applied 2-3 cm above the skull using a coil. The magnetic field it creates stimulates electrical currents in the cerebral cortex, thereby depolarizing neurons. TMS has different effects when applied at different frequencies. High-frequency TMS causes excitation (stimulation) in the applied area, while low-frequency TMS causes inhibition (slowing). In repetitive TMS, the magnetic pulses arrive in a rapid series. The location, intensity, and time interval of the stimulation are adjusted for different conditions.

Where is TMS used?

TMS can be used in many different psychiatric and neurological diseases.

Studies on patients with major depression have demonstrated the effectiveness of high-frequency TMS applied to the left prefrontal cortex in treating depression. TMS is FDA-approved for the treatment of depression. It is also FDA-approved as an effective treatment for medication-resistant migraines.

It is used effectively for many psychiatric disorders beyond depression. It is highly effective in anxiety disorders, as well as hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. Because it has no side effects, it can be used safely in childhood.

It has been found to be very effective in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, essential tremor and tinnitus and is widely used.

Again, in studies conducted and published in 2016, it was reported that it was effective in suppressing the feeling of hunger and reducing food intake in obesity disorders.

Today, TMS has also become a powerful solution for the treatment of paralysis and speech disorders following brain hemorrhage and stroke (clot), as well as neuropathic pain frequently observed after spinal cord/hernia surgery and in diabetes. A Drug-Free Solution to Depression During Pregnancy with TMS

Depression can occur in a proportion of mothers, such as those with , during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Treatment is particularly challenging because medications prescribed for depression during pregnancy can be harmful to the baby. Motivational interviews, cognitive behavioral interventions, and TMS, applied as a somatic treatment, can be helpful for patients during pregnancy and the postpartum period, depending on the severity of the mother's symptoms.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Patients do not experience any pain during TMS. Current safety protocols adjust the amount of stimulation based on the individual's motor threshold.