Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique that can alter cortical and subcortical activities. In Japan, rTMS was approved in September 2017 as a therapeutic device for patients with depression who did not respond to existing medications. The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) published a guide on the appropriate use of rTMS in April 2018, which can be downloaded from the JSPN homepage. The indications for rTMS are adult patients with moderate- to- severe depression who do not respond to adequate doses of existing antidepressants. This article outlines the main criteria for facilities and medical staff from the 2018 guide to the appropriate use of rTMS by the JSPN. The introduction of rTMS into clinical practice can provide a novel therapeutic option for depression for patients who do not benefit from medical treatments and their families.
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