Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, is one of the most exciting advancements in the treatment of depression and anxiety that we’ve seen in the past two decades.
In the past, patients with treatment-resistant depression or patients who did not want to take antidepressants had few available options. Since the introduction of TMS, individuals with major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and other mental health challenges have an effective treatment available.
But what exactly is TMS?
TMS is a form of interventional psychiatry, utilizing advanced technology to treat mental health conditions. Unlike traditional treatments such as antidepressants, TMS works by directly stimulating neural pathways to restore healthy brain function. This stimulus/response approach actually helps the brain attain and maintain positive mental health long after the treatment has ended.
Approximately one-third of patients do not find adequate relief from depression or anxiety with antidepressants, even after trying multiple different medications. Some patients experience severe side effects from these medications, making them intolerable.
See why TMS works so well at treating depression
TMS has been shown to help patients whose depression and anxiety have not responded to other treatments. Depression and anxiety are co-occurring conditions in approximately 80 percent of patients. Because of its unique approach, TMS works for both depression and anxiety.
See how TMS helps people suffering from anxiety
TMS has shown significant results in treating PTSD, helping restore peace of mind and significant symptom relief to those who have experienced trauma. TMS is covered by TRICARE for PTSD treatment, making it an excellent option for military members and families.
See how TMS helps people suffering from PTSD
We are highly experienced and passionate about helping veterans and their families with depression and PTSD using TMS therapy. We accept TRICARE and TriWest insurance for military members and their families.
Learn more about TMS treatment for PTSD or depression with TRICARE.
TMS therapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses, similar to those used in MRI machines, to stimulate the brain areas responsible for mood regulation. During a TMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed on your scalp near your forehead. This coil painlessly delivers magnetic pulses that stimulate the nerve cells in the brain region that controls mood and depression. These magnetic pulses encourage the brain to develop new, healthy neural behaviors.
One of the biggest advantages of TMS is how well patients tolerate the treatment. Unlike antidepressants, TMS doesn’t have systemic side effects, which makes it particularly appealing for those who have had unpleasant experiences with medication. Some patients may experience mild scalp discomfort or headaches, but these usually decrease as treatment continues.
Most patients begin to notice significant improvements around the fourth week of treatment, with family and friends often observing positive changes even earlier, typically by the third week.
In the United States, TMS is FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder, anxious depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and even for smoking cessation. Additionally, TMS has shown promising results in treating PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression, panic disorder, and other mental health conditions.
The noninvasive procedure transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve symptoms of depression by using magnetic fields to activate and stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Typically, TMS is used as an alternative to medications or as a supplement to antidepressants when they have lost effectiveness.
Magnetic pulses are delivered to specific areas of the brain during a TMS session. These magnetic pulses stimulate the brain to generate new, healthy pathways in the brain.
An initial course of TMS treatment is typically around 20 minutes per session. Patients receive TMS treatment 5 days a week over a 4 to 6 week period.
Most commercial plans cover TMS treatments because they recognize TMS therapy as an effective depression treatment. We can help you verify your insurance coverage and obtain pre-authorization for treatment.
Since TMS does not cycle through the blood or circulate the body, it will not have negative side effects like dry mouth, nausea, sedation, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, etc. The side effects of TMS that were most commonly reported were mild to moderate headaches and scalp discomfort. This occurred less frequently after completing the first week of treatment.
No, TMS uses a special method of delivering pulsed magnetic fields for therapeutic benefits. The strength of the magnetic field TMS uses is comparable to an MRI. This is drastically different from the popular practice of using low-intensity, static magnetic fields. Those magnets put off weak and undirected static fields, meaning that they are not able to stimulate the brain cells like TMS can. This is one reason why TMS therapy so effective.
