This literature provides an overview of several emerging mental health treatments being explored for adolescents, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), ketamine and esketamine, and external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS). It explains how each treatment works, their current FDA approval status, potential benefits, and possible side effects. The document also highlights important considerations for families—such as safety, monitoring, and comprehensive care—emphasizing the importance of discussing these options with a licensed mental health clinician experienced in working with adolescents.

This publication reviews the current evidence on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents—a condition for which traditional treatments like SSRIs and CBT often fall short. While rTMS has strong support for efficacy and safety in adults, research in adolescents is still limited. The review outlines existing adolescent studies, highlights potential applications in other psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and ADHD, and discusses important safety and ethical considerations. It emphasizes the need for further research to determine optimal treatment parameters for youth, which may differ from adult protocols, and notes the potential of early neuromodulation to positively influence developing brain circuits.

This announcement highlights the FDA’s clearance of the MagVenture TMS Therapy™ system for adolescents aged 15 to 21 with major depressive disorder who have not responded adequately to antidepressant medication. The document explains the growing need for alternative treatments in this age group and describes how MagVenture’s noninvasive TMS technology targets brain regions involved in mood regulation. It also outlines key benefits of TMS for teens, including brief, medication-free sessions with no downtime and potential symptom relief lasting up to six months.