Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder in Pregnancy: A Literature Review

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a growing problem among pregnant women as current treatment with antidepressants pose significant risks to the mother and fetus. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a neuromodulation technique that is being increasingly utilized to treat MDD in adults. We conducted a literature search using the keyword "TMS" and cross-referencing it with MDD, depression, major depressive episode, pregnancy, efficacy, safety, and clinical trial. This review explores current studies conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TMS to treat MDD in pregnant females. Low-frequency TMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, when given to pregnant women with MDD during the second and third trimester, has shown a significant response in depressive symptom reduction. TMS offers a promising alternative to current treatment options for managing MDD during pregnancy, but with limited research available, its safety and efficacy still need to be studied by conducting multicenter trials and long-term studies.