TMS: Unlocking the Brain’s Power to Transform Surgery-Free Mental Health

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-is already an established therapy for neurological conditions, including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as being FDA-approved for smoking cessation. Its success in helping patients with treatment-resistant depression through the modulation of activity in specific areas of the brain has established TMS as a safe and effective therapy that could be used to target other areas of the brain and, therefore, treat a vast array of conditions with a neurological component. Trials are under way to assess its use in the treatment of chronic neurological pain, biploar disorder, epilepsy, cognitive decline and so much more. Jim Banks talks to leading researchers in the field to discuss the success of TMS so far, the challenges in designing clinical trials, and the huge scope for potential applications in the years ahead.