Conditions Treated with TMS Therapy
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood and behavior. It was first approved for major depressive disorder in 2008 and is now also FDA-approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxious depression, and as an aid for short-term smoking cessation. Researchers are actively studying TMS for additional conditions including PTSD, bipolar depression, postpartum depression, and other anxiety-related disorders. Below you'll find guides to each condition where TMS is used or being studied — each page explains how TMS helps, what to expect, and lists nearby clinics that offer it.
Depression
FDA-approved use of TMS for major depressive disorder.
Treatment-Resistant Depression
For depression unresponsive to multiple antidepressants.
Anxiety
FDA-cleared for anxious depression and increasingly used for anxiety disorders.
PTSD
Emerging evidence supports TMS for post-traumatic stress disorder.
OCD
Deep TMS is FDA-approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Bipolar Disorder
Studied as an option for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder.
Postpartum Depression
A non-medication option for new mothers with PPD.
Smoking Cessation
FDA-approved Deep TMS aid for short-term smoking cessation.
How TMS Works
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Magnetic pulses are delivered to specific areas of the brain
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These pulses stimulate neural activity
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Over time, this rewires brain function and reduces symptoms