Transcranial magnetic stimulation as therapy for depression and other disorders.

Objective: To provide an overview of the progress and prospects of transcranial magnetic stimulation as a psychiatric therapy for depression. Method: Published and unpublished studies of the usefulness of transcranial magnetic stimulation as a therapy for depression were assessed, and characterised in terms of a consistent measure of dosage. Additional information was obtained through correspondence, personal meetings and visits to facilities. Results: Transcranial magnetic stimulation, a means for inducing small regional currents in the brain, has been used in clinical neurology for some time, and can be used on conscious subjects with minimal side-effects. Early researchers noticed trans…