TMS

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses a copper coil positioned on the patient's scalp to produce brief, focused magnetic pulses reaching approximately 2 to 2.5 centimetres into the brain. These pulses trigger changes in neuronal activity and communication, modulating unwanted or insufficient brain activity depending on stimulation parameters.

TMS can act as a stimulant or an inhibitor of cerebral activity. Different coil sizes and magnetic impulse patterns influence outcomes, leveraging the brain's neuroplasticity — the capacity of neurons to adapt and reorganise in response to injury or disease.

A typical course involves sessions 5 days per week for 4 to 6 weeks, each lasting 30 to 40 minutes. Because no sedation or general anaesthesia is required, patients remain fully awake and return to normal activities immediately after each session.

The most common side effect is headache, reported by approximately half of patients — mild and typically diminishing over the course of treatment. About one third of patients experience scalp sensations or facial twitching, which also tend to lessen with treatment adjustments. Earplugs are provided due to the device's clicking noise. The risk of seizure is very low (approximately 1 in 1,000). Patients with non-removable metallic implants in or near the head are not eligible for TMS.