UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

This literature review provides research that looks at the treatment of depressive symptoms with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Depression affects many people directly by presenting symptoms that can become debilitating. Between 30% and 50% of people with depression encounter resistances to treatment, meaning their symptoms do not show improvement (Shanoket al., 2023). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an alternative treatment for depressionthat shows resistance to traditional medications and therapies. TMS utilizes magnetic fields to affect functions in the brain that can change the way people feel. Some researchers suggest that it could also be more widely used, even if patients are not showing signs of treatment resistance. Advancements in this field are possible, and TMS shows signs of further improving upon itself.