Philip G. Janicak, MD Adjunct Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, Illinois Member, Current Psychiatry Editorial Board
Disclosure Dr. Janicak is an unpaid consultant to Neuronetics, Inc., and has a financial relationship with Otsuka Pharmaceuticals.
Neuromodulation is undergoing a renaissance spurred on by the need for more effective treatments to manage some of our most challenging illnesses. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and other forms of therapeutic neuromodulation are welcome additions for managing treatment-resistant depression, OCD, and possibly other disorders. But perhaps their greatest value is as a bellwether for what’s to come. In addition to the ongoing refinements to existing neuromodulation devices, newer modulation approaches (eg, temporal interference stimulation) and the search for reliable biomarkers may dramatically expand and enhance our clinical options.14,22
Bottom Line
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) continues to evolve as a nonpharmacologic treatment for mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and potentially for other indications. Recent developments, including altered treatment parameters, new devices, and strategies for increasing the durability of antidepressant effects, have enhanced the benefits of TMS.
Related Resources
Ziemann U. Thirty years of transcranial magnetic stimulation: where do we stand? Exp Brain Res. 2017;235(4):973-984.
Janicak PG, Sackett V, Kudrna K, et al. Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of major depression: an update on recent advances. Current Psychiatry. 2016:15(6):49-56.
