Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for OCD Treatment

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for OCD Treatment OCD Treatment Print Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for OCD Treatment By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 19, 2019 Monty Rakusen / Getty Images More in OCD Treatment Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Types Living With OCD Related Conditions Although there are currently a number of effective medical and psychological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder  (OCD), if you have treatment-resistant OCD you may be looking for new ways to treat your  symptoms. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, has received considerable attention as a possible alternative treatment to reduce OCD symptoms. Although first developed nearly 30 years ago as a  tool to treat  major depression, TMS has now been widely investigated for effectiveness in treating a variety of mental illnesses. The two types commonly used for mental illness are repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Repetitive TMS is the predecessor to dTMS and is a relatively non-invasive procedure that involves placing a small device directly on the skull. This sealed device contains a coil of wire that carries electricity through the magnetic field that it generates. Its called repetitive because it pulses rather than remaining steady. The flow of electricity through the device stimulates cells in the brain called neurons, changing their activity levels. The activity level of neurons has been linked to symptoms of mental illness, like OCD.  How many rTMS treatments you would need depends on the treatment protocol, and would be discussed by you and your doctor prior to starting your treatment.   While there have been some reports of rTMS being effective in reducing  OCD symptoms, the majority of research findings indicate that rTMS is not effective in reducing OCD symptoms alone or in combination with medication. Repetitive TMS may indirectly improve the psychological well-being of people  coping with OCD  by reducing the symptoms of depression that often go along with OCD. Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Like rTMS, deep transcranial magnetic stimulation also uses a coil placed directly on the skull, which creates a magnetic field penetrating the brain. The biggest difference between the two types is that the coil used with dTMS, called an H-coil, allows the pulse to penetrate more deeply into the brain. Deep TMS is showing a lot of potential over rTMS in treating mental illness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both rTMS and dTMS for the treatment of major depressive disorder and studies are being done on their efficacy for OCD and other mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, as well. Deep TMS might have the most to offer in cases where OCD is difficult to treat. One study showed that people with  treatment-resistant OCD  who received dTMs had significant improvements in their symptoms. The results were steady for three months. Potential Side Effects TMS is generally considered safe when used in accordance with established guidelines. After undergoing TMS, you may have headaches, feel sleepy, and experience other mild, short-term symptoms.  Epileptic  seizures  are a more serious, although rare, side  effect of rTMS.   Although TMS for OCD has been looked at in a number of studies, the stimulation parameters used, the brain areas targeted, and the length of treatment has varied from study to study, making it difficult to compare results. While research continues to look at the effect of TMS on OCD, a standard protocol will help researchers determine the effectiveness of rTMS for OCD more conclusively.