Psychiatry, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - Overview
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Therapy at UAB is a noninvasive treatment for adults suffering from major depression who have not improved with the use of medication. Highly focused, pulsed magnetic fields are used to stimulate function in a certain region of the brain. The magnetic fields turn on and off rapidly and focuses on the left front of the brain. This part of a patient’s brain controls mood and allows the magnetic stimulation to focus on this one area of the brain without directly affecting the rest. The rTMS Therapy at UAB has very low side effects, but is not right for every patient.
The rTMS Therapy at UAB is performed under direct supervision of a psychiatrist and lasts for 40 minutes per session. The rTMS Therapy at UAB requires 20 to 30 sessions, which are administered daily for four to six weeks.
Conditions Treated
Some conditions treated by rTMS Therapy include:
- Severe Depression
Services Provided
Some services provided by rTMS Therapy include:
- Outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia
- Patient is awake and alert
- Very low side effects
- Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat major depression in adults
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