FDA clears transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for treating OCD

The FDA granted clearance for a transcranial magnetic stimulation device for adjunct treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to an industry press release.

This clearance is the second indication in the United States for MagVenture TMS Therapy, which was previously cleared in 2015 to treat depression.

"We have worked closely with brain researchers for well over 25 years, providing numerous TMS solutions to help advance the field of neuroscience — both basic and applied,” Kerry Rome, vice president of sales for MagVenture Inc., said in the release.

To improve OCD symptoms, TMS therapies utilize magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions. According to the release, the therapy is associated with no systemic side effects and is an outpatient procedure that specifically targets regions of the brain, including deeper-lying structures, known to be especially affected by OCD. Further, the therapy is an adjunct treatment to existing OCD therapies that may involve behavioral and pharmaceutical therapy.

Currently, TMS therapies are available at numerous psychiatric hospitals and practices throughout the U.S.

“Expanding the treatment options to include other indications than major depressive disorder, such as OCD, is one more important step towards helping more adult patients improve their mental health,” Rome said in the release.