For depressed teenagers who haven’t responded to treatment, there is a new option that’s getting a lot of attention. TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate a brain region that is underactive in people with depression. It’s delivered by a magnetic coil placed on the patient’s head, and treatment usually involves short sessions 5 days a week, for about 6 weeks.

This week we take a look at TMS, which is FDA-approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression as well as OCD. It’s been shown in studies to be safe and effective for adolescents, too. TMS is being widely studied in different formats — including multiple sessions a day for 5 days — and for other mental health disorders. We also round up resources on medication, different kinds of therapy, and the technique called behavioral activation, all of which can help adolescents with depression.

– Caroline Miller, Editorial Director | ✉