Efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating disease characterised by obsessions and compulsions that cause anxiety to the patient and his family. Its prevalence is around 2 to 3% in the general population, and despite being responsive to treatment, 40-60% of patients are not full responders and remain refractory. Therefore, new therapeutic options like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been gaining interest recently due to their non-invasive nature and potentially promising results. However, there is not yet a consensus about its efficacy in this disease. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy of TMS in the treatment of OCD, discussing some of the clinical trials available.