I first learned about TMS during residency when a psychiatrist was saying great things about it, but my residency program was not buying the machine at the time (we did, however, conduct electroconvulsive therapy).

 

I heard about this again from another psychiatrist, and I got the impression that going somewhere multiple times a week may be healing the depression itself rather than the magnetic treatments.

 

But upon further reflection, many studies have demonstrated that when certain regions of the brain are affected, people are more likely to respond to psychotherapy. That helped to point me into thinking that this is could be a great biological approach in treating depression. And the more I think about it, I trust that the FDA and governmental agencies approving this treatment for depression and obsessive compulsive disorder have done their homework. Thus, coming in early 2021, TMS will be offered for depression.