Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that is receiving increasingly attentionTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that is receiving increasingly attentionfor new clinical applications. Through electromagnetic induction cortical activity can be modulated and therapeuticeffects can be achieved in a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. According to the World Health Organization(WHO) depression is the most disabling disease in the world and 350 million people suffer from depression globally. Majordepression is the most common disorder to be treated with TMS and the first mental disorder for which TMS received approvalfrom the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We here introduce the basic principles of TMS, discuss the latestdata on safety and side effects, and present various TMS treatment protocols as well as treatment response predictors inmajor depressive disorder.
Keywords: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS); cognitive neurosciences; dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; major depressive disorder; rTMS protocols.