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Magnetic convulsive therapy: seizure induction with TMS

The induced seizure through Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), also called magnetic seizure therapy, is a new technique that has been used for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, specially depression. It uses a magnetic stimulator that generates a magnetic field that is applied over the patient's skull with a coil. This article reviews the eleven cases in which the seizure was induced deliberately for therapeutic purposes. Although just in it's beginning, it is a technique that can substitute electrically induced seizures (electroconvulsive therapy), if it shows the same efficacy and a more safe profile related to side effects and possible complications, taking the fact that the stimuli are more focused.

Seizures; magnetic stimulation; treatment; depression


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