Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
DESCRIPTION
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) utilizes a magnetic field applied noninvasively to the scalp to depolarize neurons in specific brain regions. It was first approved by the FDA for treatment of depression in 2008, specifically in patients with major depressive disorder who did not satisfactorily improve after one medication trial.
- Better tolerated than ECT, but not as efficacious[1].
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Last updated: October 3, 2025
Citation
Guzman, Miriam, et al. "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)." Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787143/all/Transcranial_Magnetic_Stimulation__TMS_.
Guzman M, Reti I, Nestadt P. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787143/all/Transcranial_Magnetic_Stimulation__TMS_. Accessed October 22, 2025.
Guzman, M., Reti, I., & Nestadt, P. (2025). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). In Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787143/all/Transcranial_Magnetic_Stimulation__TMS_
Guzman M, Reti I, Nestadt P. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2025 October 22]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787143/all/Transcranial_Magnetic_Stimulation__TMS_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
ID - 787143
A1 - Guzman,Miriam,M.D.
AU - Reti,Irving,M.B.B.S.
AU - Nestadt,Paul,M.D.
Y1 - 2025/10/03/
BT - Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787143/all/Transcranial_Magnetic_Stimulation__TMS_
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
