Psych News Special Report: 12 Notes About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

On this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, Editor in Chief Dr. Adrian Preda sits down with Dr. Joshua Brown, a leading expert in neuromodulation and Medical Director of the TMS Service at McLean Hospital, to explore how transcranial magnetic stimulation is reshaping the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Dr. Brown shares the clinical stories that drew him to TMS, explains how this "electric brain" approach drives synaptic plasticity, and walks through what actually happens at the level of NMDA and AMPA receptors. The conversation covers how TMS compares with medications and ECT, why it should not be viewed as a last resort, and how emerging strategies like accelerated protocols and pharmacologic augmentation could boost response and remission. Looking ahead, they discuss new indications, evolving training pathways, and why TMS is moving from niche tool to foundational treatment option in modern psychiatry. Read the full Special Report on TMS here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.11.11.4  PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn.