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What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure to treat depression that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) is a shorter version of TMS and is the type of brain stimulation used in the ADEPT and TREND studies. The TMS device, called the MagPro X100 TMS system, is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have not received satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medications. Thus, the device is acceptable for studying how people with depression respond to treatments. We expect TBS to have potential value in improving depression and mood in young people. TBS is a technique to briefly change function in a region of your brain using a magnetic field that passes through the scalp and the skull safely. We use the MRI brain images from the participant's first study visit to guide the TBS so that the stimulation is in the right place. Additional information about TMS and how it is performed can be found here. 

The video below by MagVenture illustrates what happens in the brain during depression and how TMS therapy be used to help treat depression. The MagVenture TMS Therapy uses magnetic pulses to target the exact area in the brain affected by depression.