Electroconvulsive Therapy and Other Neuromodulation Techniques for the Treatment of Psychosis.

Electroconvulsive therapy is an established treatment for symptoms of psychosis and is currently recommended for use in patients who are experiencing an acute exacerbation of positive symptoms or who have had catatonia. There is also evidence to suggest that electroconvulsive therapy can be a safe, effective treatment in first episode psychosis, such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders, particularly in treatment-resistant patients. Other forms of neuromodulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation) have less of an evidence base to support their use and are not formally indicated for the treatment of psychosis.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Conditions Other than Major Depressive Disorder.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for major depressive disorder (MDD). TMS is a neuromodulation technique that works by creating a focal magnetic field that induces a small electric current. Compared with other neuromodulation techniques, TMS is a noninvasive treatment modality that is generally well-tolerated.