Current State of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and its use in Psychiatry

Abstract

Introduction. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that could be used as a therapeutic intervention in order to treat psychiatric disorders.

Aim. Reviewing the effectiveness of TMS in the modulation of cognitive functions and also detailing its potential applications in psychiatric treatments.

Development. TMS has been traditionally used for the treatment of a great variety of neurological or psychiatric conditions by modulating the activity in brain areas and networks. Therapeutic benefit has been found in depressive disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, and neurodevelopmental disorders as well as in brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, TMS is a technique which offers great tolerance and can be used as complement with other therapies. However, it is not easy to define an optimal treatment for every pathology: the parameters of stimulation are variable, and its effects at the cellular level of the nervous system are not well-known.

Conclusion. While it is true that TMS provides many therapeutic benefits, it requires further investigation. It is necessary to detail the action mechanism of the stimulation and the long-term side effects, if any. This information would allow the design of specific treatment protocols for different psychiatric disorders.