What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

A non-invasive medical method called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses electromagnetic fields to activate brain nerve cells. It is mostly employed in the fields of neurology and psychiatry as a therapeutic intervention. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a rapidly developing field of study and therapeutic practice, and as more research is done to see whether it might help with a range of neurological and psychiatric issues, its uses of it will only grow. Those who are thinking about TMS therapy should speak with medical specialists to find out if it’s a good fit for their particular circumstances.

Approved by Health Canada, TMS is usually used only when other depression treatments haven’t been effective.

Why would a magnet affect how my brain works?

Electricity and magnetism are the two fundamental physics concepts that underpin transcranial magnetic stimulation. Additionally, these two concepts may cooperate, and TMS depends on them doing so.

A magnet’s impact in the magnetically active space around it is referred to as the magnetic field. The effects of the magnet in its core are still visible in that space. Electricity is produced when you bring a magnet close to anything that conducts electricity because of the interaction between the conductive object and the magnetic field.

So why is any of it relevant? Your brain is electrically active. Tiny electrical currents are created by your neurons, or brain cells, in your brain and nerves to transmit and receive information throughout your body. The electrical activity of your brain may be changed by placing a magnet near it. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation specifically (TMS) targets brain regions associated with emotions, internal decision-making, pleasure, and other related concepts.

However, a magnet that turns on and off is necessary for performing TMS. By controlling the magnet’s on and off states using electricity, is feasible to do. It also needs a magnet, preferably one that is far stronger than the typical fridge magnet or one you carry about your house.

Why is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation done?

When all other treatment methods have failed, TMS is frequently helpful. Being a noninvasive alternative, it’s also a significant one. This implies that the entire therapy is administered via your skin, negating the need for surgery.

In cases when electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is not an option or is ineffective, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can provide an alternative.

The conditions that TMS is fully authorized to treat may differ from nation to nation. The Information of Health Canada (FDA) has approved TMS for the following issues,

Research is being conducted to examine whether it can cure any additional ailments in addition to the ones that have been authorized. These include of, but are not restricted to:

What happens during transcranial magnetic stimulation?

The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive treatment. The only thing you might need to do before the operation is remove any metallic jewelry or glasses with metal frames. As a precautionary measure, take off any metallic jewelry in case it contains any magnetic metals you are unaware of.

TMS’s magnetic coil is housed inside a nonmagnetic housing or casing. A magnet within a helmet is used by some TMS tech. Others have the magnet fastened to an extension arm (the kind of arm that enables a medical professional to hold an overhead light in place while performing surgery). You will be seated next to or beneath the magnet in a chair at your provider’s office.

Your healthcare professional will offer you earplugs—or another kind of hearing protection—once you’re situated comfortably. This is because the magnet’s sound is powerful enough to induce hearing impairments (for the same reason, wearing hearing protection is customary during MRI scans).

Your provider will place the magnet on your head once your hearing protection is in place. This entails either donning the helmet that contains the magnet (secured in place with a chin strap) or holding the extension arm such that the magnet’s outer casing is pressed up against your face. The particular location is determined by your condition.

Your healthcare practitioner will stimulate your scalp with single pulses prior to the commencement of the therapy. This aids in determining the ideal setting and place for your treatments. The therapy will begin as soon as the magnet is positioned. As your provider gradually raises the strength of the magnetic pulses, you will first experience a tapping-like feeling from the magnet.

You’ll feel a twitch or movement in your hands, particularly in your thumbs, as the pulse intensity increases. This is typical, and it will assist your provider in determining whether the pulse strength is high enough.

Your provider will use the magnet to produce pulses with a predetermined time or pattern after determining and adjusting the ideal pulse strength. During the treatments, you will hear clicking sounds as the magnet goes on and off. This is also typical. A sequence of pulses may be interspersed by pauses. This is so that the magnet, which is heated by the energy that drives it, can cool during the intervals.

A few minutes to thirty minutes can pass between treatment sessions, depending on the sort of TMS you’re having and the magnetic field pulse pattern. The best person to estimate the duration of a session is your provider.

What happens after Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

After a treatment session, you can resume your daily activities or schedule as usual. Your healthcare practitioner might urge you to wait a few minutes before leaving if you are experiencing any persistent side effects, such as twitching or strange feelings in your head or face. Following a therapy session, the majority of symptoms are modest and pass quickly.

Benefits of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

  • It doesn’t invade your body. This process doesn’t use physical invasions, and after a session, you may resume your normal activities. Furthermore, no anesthetic of any type is used.
  • It’s secure. The most frequent and severe adverse effect of TMS is seizures, however they are quite uncommon. With TMS, the chance of experiencing a seizure is less than 0.01% every session. The majority of other negative effects are minor and pass quickly.
  • It works well. TMS success rates differ depending on the ailment. However, the evidence that is currently available indicates that it is effective.
  • It is capable of saving lives. One of the primary illnesses treated with TMS is major depressive disorder, which can worsen to the point of suicide.
  • It can be combined with other medical interventions. TMS frequently occurs in conjunction with several therapeutic approaches, including medication, mental health counseling, and more.

What are the risks, side effects or complications of transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation carries comparatively low risks, problems, and adverse effects. Seizures are the most likely to be dangerous adverse effects of TMS. But these are also quite uncommon. A TMS session carries a 0.01%, or less than 1 in 10,000, chance of seizure.

The following are the most common side effects, most of which are minor and go away in a matter of minutes following a session:

  • Headaches.
  • Pain, usually in your scalp or neck.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness.
  • Tingling in the muscles of your face or scalp.
  • Temporary tinnitus (ringing in your ears).
  • Unusually high sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis).

Additional Details

Is TMS harmful to the brain?

Numerous research investigations on TMS have been conducted by experts. None of those research have connected TMS to detrimental alterations in the brain. Significant adverse effects have been documented in a very small number of individuals. These cases are extremely uncommon, though, and of the few that do exist, specialists have only decided that TMS was most likely the reason.

Parting Notes by The Insight Clinic

A magnetic field is used as part of a therapeutic method called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to affect your brain’s electrical activity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, migraines, and quitting smoking can all benefit from this therapy.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation gives hope to those who have not experienced benefits from other more widely used therapies, even though it is not a first-line treatment. TMS is a potentially life-saving therapy for severe or treatment-resistant depression. Researchers are also looking into whether it can assist with a variety of other brain-related diseases, which might lead to even more applications for the medication.You can inquire about it in your next psychiatrists consultation with your psychotherapist.