psychiatrichealth.comNeurostimulation
TMS, rTMS, and ECT are neuromodulation options for treatment-resistant conditions—each with distinct protocols, side effects, and timelines.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation delivers magnetic pulses to targeted brain regions, typically the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, to modulate neural activity. Sessions last about 20 to 40 minutes, five days a week for 4 to 6 weeks. The most common side effect is mild headache; seizures are extremely rare with modern protocols. Improvement may begin after 2 to 4 weeks, with full effect by treatment end.
