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When transcranial magnetic stimulation works: Symptom relief
If transcranial magnetic stimulation works for you, your depression symptoms could improve or go away completely. This improvement, if it occurs, may be gradual and take a few weeks. Improvement in your mood may last for days or weeks. Some research, however, shows a lack of dramatic improvement in depression symptoms. But as researchers learn more about different techniques, the number of stimulations required and the best sites on the brain to stimulate, the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation may improve over time.
When transcranial magnetic stimulation may be less effective
Some research suggests that transcranial magnetic stimulation is less effective in certain situations, including:
- Older age
- Presence of psychosis
- Depression that has lasted four or more years
- Failure of electroconvulsive therapy to improve depression symptoms
It's not yet known if transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used to treat depression for the long term, or whether you can have periodic maintenance treatments to prevent depression symptoms from returning.
