GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE. OPEN TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE.Areas of Ongoing Research
At Anew TMS, Dr. Sarah Stone follows this evolving body of research closely. For select patients, she may consider an investigational or off-label TMS approach when the available evidence, the patient’s medical history, and the potential benefits and risks support a thoughtful clinical discussion.
TMS is being studied for conditions beyond its established indications. Below are several areas of active research and what the current evidence suggests. These are evolving fields, and findings should be understood as promising areas of investigation rather than established standards of care
Bipolar Depression
Researchers have studied TMS for depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, particularly for patients whose symptoms have not responded adequately to conventional treatments.
What the research suggests
Recent reviews suggest that TMS may have antidepressant effects for some people experiencing bipolar depression. However, findings across individual studies have been inconsistent, and the evidence base remains smaller than it is for major depressive disorder.
Careful psychiatric evaluation is particularly important when considering neuromodulation in someone with bipolar disorder.
These applications are investigational. TMS is not FDA-cleared for the conditions described below. The effectiveness of these approaches has not been established, individual results cannot be predicted, and treatment for these indications is typically self-pay rather than covered by insurance.