TMS for OCD: What the Research Shows
By Counseling & Treatment Center of Utah · 2026-04-22
Most people know TMS as a depression treatment, but it’s also FDA-cleared for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For people whose OCD hasn’t fully responded to therapy or medication, TMS offers another evidence-based path.
How TMS helps OCD
OCD involves overactive communication in specific brain circuits. TMS targets those circuits with magnetic pulses, helping to quiet the loop that drives obsessions and compulsions — an approach that complements, rather than replaces, therapy like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Combining TMS and therapy
For many people, the strongest results come from pairing TMS with skilled therapy. Our clinicians can coordinate both so your treatment works together.
Frequently asked
Is TMS for OCD the same as TMS for depression?
The technology is the same, but the brain target and protocol are tailored to OCD. Your provider will design the right plan.