Journal
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISEASE AND TREATMENT
Volume 16, Issue -, Pages 2989-3000Publisher
DOVE MEDICAL PRESS LTD
DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S276635
Keywords
transcranial magnetic stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation-related seizures; transcranial magnetic stimulation safety; transcranial magnetic stimulation in epilepsy patients; head injuries and transcranial magnetic stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation in children and adolescents
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an increasingly popular FDA-approved treatment for resistant depression, migraines, and OCD. Research is also underway for its use in various other psychiatric and medical disorders. Although rare, seizures are a potential adverse event of TMS treatment. In this article, we discuss TMS-related seizures with the various coils used to deliver TMS, the risk factors associated with seizures, the differential diagnosis of its presentations, the effects of sleep deprivation and alcohol use on seizures, as well as seizure risks with protocols for traditional TMS, theta-burst stimulation, and accelerated TMS. A discussion is presented comparing the potential risk of seizures with various psychotropic medications versus TMS. Included are case reports of TMS seizures in the child/adolescent patient, bipolar disorder patients, patients with a history of a traumatic brain injury, and those with epilepsy. Reports are also shared on TMS use without seizures in patients with a history of head injuries and TMS's continued use if patients have a seizure during their TMS treatment. Findings generated in this review suggest the following. Seizures, if present, are usually selflimiting. Most treatment recommendations for TMS-related seizures are supportive in nature. The risk of TMS-related seizures is <1% overall. TMS has successfully been used in patients with epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries, and those with a prior TMS-related seizure. The rate of TMS-related seizures is comparable to that of most psychotropic medications. While having a seizure is a rare but serious adverse effect of TMS, the benefits of treating refractory depression with TMS may outweigh the risk of suicidal ideation and other significant complications of depression.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available