Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Overview

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment option for people with depression. At Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, doctors may recommend TMS when other treatments, such as talk therapy (psychotherapy) or medications, have not been helpful. TMS treatment may not be covered by insurance — check with your insurer.

TMS is a noninvasive outpatient procedure that doesn't require anesthesia, surgery or electrode implantation. For the procedure, you sit in a reclining chair with a treatment coil placed against your scalp. The coil sends brief magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in your brain that are involved in mood regulation and depression. Typically, you'll have five 40-minute treatments each week for up to six weeks.

Read more about transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for TMS

• Experience and expertise. Mayo Clinic psychiatrists have performed TMS treatments since 2002 as a part of nationwide research on this technology. Mayo was one of the first medical facilities in the U.S. to offer this treatment for depression after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the TMS device in 2008.
• Latest research. In addition to being a leading center for TMS clinical trials to treat depression, which led to FDA approval, Mayo continues to research TMS for depression in adults and teenagers and for other uses.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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