Article highlights from: “Whither TMS: A One-Trick Pony or the Beginning of a Neuroscientific” Revolution? Article by Mark S. George, MD

In this article Dr. Mark George reviews the history of TMS which was invented in its modern form in 1985.  At that time it created a great stir with some psychiatrists who were eager to use TMS, like Dr. George, and others who were skeptical.  The article walks the reader through some of the basics in its development for use in treatment resistant depression, and then goes on to summarize what other uses TMS research is branching out to investigate.  He mentions its approval by the FDA for use in treating OCD as well as other off label uses being explored including PTSD.  Dr. Mark George states “TMS thus represents a paradigm shift in psychiatry. It is not a talk therapy, does not involve administration of medications by mouth or intravenously, does not involve seizures and modulated circuit activity in the brain.  Because it is focal and noninvasive, it produces no systemic side effects and no drug-drug interactions.  It is a good choice in medically complicated patients, and does not involve anesthetics or have deleterious cognitive effects.”  TMS is FDA approved for treatment resistant depression.” He goes on to say “From my vantage point, rTMS is the first wave of an entire new approach to treatment in neuropsychiatry.” Mark S. George is a professor of psychiatry, radiology and neurosciences and is the director of the Medical University of South Carolina Center for Advanced Imaging Research as well as the Brain Stimulation Laboratory. The article was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry 2019: 176: 904-910, https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19090957