Transcranial magnetic stimulation in psychiatry and neurology

Health Council of the Netherlands, Gezondheidsraad
Record ID 32011000487
English
Authors' objectives:

Various institutions have recently begun using a new medical technique. It involves placing a magnetic coil (which generates a magnetic field) on a patient’s skull. The aim is to use this magnetic field to influence processes in the brain. This technique is known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS.

The technique is used to ameliorate certain psychiatric symptoms. Research is also under way to determine whether it could be used to treat various neurological diseases. TMS is also a useful tool in brain research.
Is it a practical addition to the existing arsenal of interventions? This is the topic of this horizon scanning/early warning report. It was drafted by a Health Council standing committee which specialises in the evaluation of innovative medical treatments.

Authors' recommendations: While the application of TMS appears to be relatively inexpensive, nothing is yet known about its actual cost-effectiveness. Efficacy studies should focus, in particular, on the use of TMS to treat patients suffering from depression who are not responding well to medication. This might also usefully be combined with the development of guidelines for medical professionals in the Netherlands. In this context, it would also be useful to study the longer term effects of TMS therapy.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/sites/default/files/summaryTMS.pdf
Year Published: 2008
URL for published report: http://www.gezondheidsraad.nl/en/publications/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-psychiatry-and-neurology
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Netherlands
MeSH Terms
  • Humans
  • Netherlands
  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Contact
Organisation Name: Health Council of the Netherlands Gezondheidsraad
Contact Address: Postbus 16052, 2500 BB Den Haag, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 70 340 7520;Fax: +31 70 340 7523
Contact Name: info@gr.nl
Contact Email: info@gr.nl
Copyright: Health Council of the Netherlands(GR)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.