Magnetic fields were used in the 1960s for muscle stimulation, but it wasn’t until the mid 1980s that the first TMS device was created. At that time Dr. Barker and his colleagues invented the initial type of TMS in Sheffield, UK. By the 1990s, TMS was being used in studies to treat depression with positive results, leading to FDA approval in 2008 for that diagnosis, followed by mainstream acceptance of the treatment for depression.

Since then, TMS has been continually refined and studied for its potential in treating various mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration approved TMS as a treatment for major depressive disorder, further solidifying its place in the field of mental health care. 70% of patients with depression see an improvement in their symptoms and around 36% of patients experience remission from depression.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment technique that uses a magnetic field to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other brain-related conditions. TMS doesn’t require anesthesia and it is generally well tolerated as compared to the side effects often seen with ECT or medications.

TMS is typically considered when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective. The side effects of TMS are usually mild and temporary. The most common side effect is headache during or after treatment. TMS devices operate completely outside of the body by applying magnetic fields to specific areas of the brain that we know are involved in depression or anxiety. Duration of each TMS session is around from 20 to 30 minutes and during a TMS session, a patient sits in a chair while the magnetic coil is placed on their head, delivering a series of magnetic pulses. TMS can help when other treatment approaches aren’t effective.

At A Child And Family Psychiatry, we’re proud to offer Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy.