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How Effective is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an FDA-approved procedure accepted by several insurance providers to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders.

To date, TMS has been used for several conditions:

  • Addiction
  • Depression
  • OCD
  • Personal Disorders
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Anxiety
  • ADHD
  • PTSD
  • Postpartum conditions
  • Dementia Management
  • Asperger’s
  • Eating Disorders
  • ADD
  • SAD
  • Anhedonia
  • Stroke recovery
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic migraines
  • Chronic pain
  • General cognition 

For over 15 years transcranial magnetic stimulation has proven to be a fast, effective form of treatment with minimal side effects for only a few of those who receive it. Moreover it is an easy option to combine with other forms of treatment. 

How Effective is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Mental Health?

Literature reviews have confirmed that TMS is highly effective in optimizing brain function for people who want to perform more effectively or stay highly focused. It has also been highly effective in recovery from things like stroke, anxiety disorders, and depression.

OCD

TMS has been approved for OCD treatment by the FDA since 2018. But how effective is transcranial magnetic stimulation on things like OCD? 

Studies have concluded that within two weeks of treatment, individuals will get relief from their symptoms, making it less likely that they are dependent on drugs and alcohol to self-medicate and more likely that they are able to sustain recovery. 

Depression

Those who struggle with depression are more likely to turn to things like drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication, especially when other medications don’t work. However, research indicates that one out of three medication-resistant patients can receive remission by using TMS.  This means those who struggle with addiction and depression can treat the symptoms of both with a highly effective and non-invasive format: TMS. 

Chronic Pain

New research has concluded that TMS can decrease pain severity and relieve chronic migraines. Relief from chronic pain of any kind means individuals are put in a position to better focus on recovery, absorb tools and techniques for behavioral modification, and be less likely to relapse by way of self-medication. 

How Effective is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Addiction?

As TMS has already been approved by the FDA for the treatment of mental health disorders like depression, there is new interest in the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation for substance use disorders. A systematic literature review of all currently published data suggests that TMS is highly effective in helping to treat substance abuse, offering support not just with addiction but with co-occurring mental health disorders.

The ability of transcranial magnetic stimulation to reduce or even cause remission of co-occurring mental health symptoms like depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, or personality disorders reduces some of the underlying causes of addictive behavior as well.

What Research Says

Nineteen studies comprising over 300 adults were reviewed in order to answer the question, “How effective is transcranial magnetic stimulation for addiction?”

These studies involved addiction to methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, and tobacco. The treatment targeted the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Conclusions were that transcranial magnetic stimulation was highly effective in several areas:

  • Decreasing cigarette smoking
  • Decreasing cocaine use
  • Increasing dopamine and glutamate function
  • Helping with response inhibition and selective attention

Another review investigated the use of TMS for those with cocaine, alcohol, or tobacco addictions. Results corroborated the information above that the use of TMS as part of a treatment plan helped to reduce the risk of relapse and modify behaviors associated with addiction.

Starting TMS with Ritual Recovery

If you are ready to try transcranial magnetic stimulation for your addiction or co-occurring disorders, Ritual Recovery can help. Our facility offers reputable programs for comprehensive addiction treatment and support.

Our team will review your situation, look at the conditions with which you are struggling, their severity, and your overall mental health to determine how you can incorporate transcranial magnetic stimulation as part of your treatment plan, and how long that session should be.

FAQs

How does TMS work?

During a session, magnetic pulses are sent into targeted areas of your brain to reach specific nerve cells. These magnetic pulses activate the areas of your brain that might have atrophied, may have poor blood flow, or are otherwise inactive. These signs of inactivity, poor oxygenation, or atrophy are often the root cause of many mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, addiction, personality disorders, and others. Stimulating these areas with electromagnetic pulses improves activation, which can reverse symptoms of things like cognitive malfunction or mood-related disorders. 

What part of the brain does TMS target?

This depends on the condition. The right and dorsolateral prefrontal cortexes are targeted for ADD or ADHD treatment. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventral limbic network, and anterior cingulate cortex are targeted for eating disorders. For depression or anxiety, treatment usually targets the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex.
Each of the technicians with whom you work will start with an assessment to determine which areas of your brain are most likely associated with your respective conditions, so they know where to send the waves.

Is TMS painful?

TMS is not generally considered painful. It is a safe outpatient procedure with limited risks of side effects. At most, some people have reported a bit of discomfort where the electrodes are placed or a mild tingling or headache after their treatment, but these complaints tend to go away after the first few sessions.

How many sessions do I need?

The number of sessions you require is based on what you are trying to treat. If you are seeking treatment for alcohol addiction and co-occurring depression, you might receive between 20 and 40 treatment sessions, whereas someone trying to treat borderline personality disorder and addiction might need up to 60.

How long are the sessions?

TMS sessions are generally very short, around 20 minutes. These sessions are safe and highly effective, allowing you to immediately resume your daily activities after each session. Most treatment plans will book sessions every day of the week over the span of a few weeks. This means your entire program, even if it does involve 60 sessions or more, can be completed in a few months.

What is the treatment like?

When you show up at a treatment center for your session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp. This coil gets connected to a machine that is run by a qualified technician. The technician uses the machine to painlessly deliver electromagnetic pulses into your brain to stimulate the nerve cells.
The technician can change the intensity, location, and depth of these pulses to reach the areas of your brain responsible for your symptoms, changing the location or depth for things like depression versus addiction. 

How long do the effects last?

This depends on your situation but in most cases the effects from transcranial magnetic stimulation will last up to 1 year. This means you can undergo additional sessions every year or as soon as your symptoms start to come back.

Can I combine transcranial magnetic stimulation with other treatments?

Absolutely! There are no contraindications combining transcranial magnetic stimulation with pharmacological treatment like depression medication or MAT medication nor are there any contraindications associated with combining therapy and holistic measures with TMS. In fact, combining them leads to higher efficacy across the board.

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