The Veterans Administration’s Evidence Synthesis Program prepared this systematic review on the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reduce symptoms in people with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and opiate addiction at the request from the Center for Compassionate Care Innovation. The authors found that recent studies and systematic reviews suggest certain forms of TMS therapy may be effective at symptom reduction for these conditions and the treatment was safe and well-tolerated by most patients. The review noted limitations in the evidence reviewed and discussed challenges to implementing TMS therapy in healthcare settings, recommending that certain TMS therapies could be considered a treatment option for patients who have exhausted other treatment options for these conditions. The review was conducted in part to inform a Congressional directive that the Veterans Health Administration implement a pilot project in the health system to further explore the effectiveness and feasibility of TMS as a treatment for these conditions. This report is accompanied by a report with supplemental materials.
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Evidence Synthesis Program
Evidence Brief: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Chronic Pain, PTSD, TBI, Opioid Addiction and Sexual Trauma
A systematic review of transcranial magnetic stimulation to reduce symptoms in people with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and opiate addiction from the Veteran Administration's Evidence Synthesis Program