TMS FAQs

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It is a non-invasive outpatient procedure that uses a pulsed magnetic field to stimulate function in brain regions known to affect mood.

TMS is covered by most commercial insurance. These include Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California (Magellan), Cigna, Aetna, HealthNet (MHN), Tricare & Kaiser (by referral only).

While only your psychiatrist can determine if you are a candidate for TMS, it is indicated for the treatment of Major Depression Disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication and/or have experienced intolerable side effects.

The most common side effects are mild to moderate scalp discomfort and mild headaches, both of which usually go away in the first week of treatment.

While both TMS and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) are effective in the treatment of depression, there are many differences in safety and tolerability. ECT is a much more intensive and invasive procedure than is TMS Therapy. ECT is designed to create seizures and requires hospitalization. The side effects from ECT are much more intense and occur in more instances. TMS is an outpatient procedure with few side-effects.

Each treatment can vary by patient, but typically lasts about 1-hour.

A full treatment course is 36 sessions. This can last 6-9 weeks.

It is commonly reported that patients need 30 to 40 sessions of TMS to derive the most benefit in the treatment of their depression symptoms. In clinical trials, 1 in 2 patients achieved significant relief of symptoms after four weeks of treatment and 1 in 3 experience complete remission after six weeks of treatment. Some patients may experience results in less time, while others may take longer.

Your psychiatrist will determine the right treatment plan for YOU.

You can begin the process by scheduling a Free Consultation with a TMS Specialist.

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is a computerized electromechanical instrument that produces and delivers brief duration, rapidly alternating (pulsed) magnetic fields to induce electrical currents in localized regions of the cerebral cortex.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is available upon the prescription of a licensed physician. It can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings including physicians’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.

“Prescription” means that the attending physician has determined that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is indicated for use in a particular patient. In addition to patient selection, the attending physician should oversee initial patient motor threshold determinations, treatment parameter definitions, and overall TMS treatment course planning for each patient.

“Supervision” means that the attending physician is medically responsible for coordination of the overall clinical care of a patient for whom NeuroStar TMS Therapy® has been considered clinically indicated and for the safe and effective use of the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System. If the attending physician is not performing the daily NeuroStar treatment sessions, then the attending physician should assign properly trained personnel who may perform the daily treatment sessions. The attending physician is medically responsible for the patient’s routine evaluation during the course of their TMS therapy treatment.

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is offered in the following configurations:

• Single mobile console configuration: mobile console, treatment coil, head support system, treatment chair, and TMS TrakStar practice data management system
• Multiple mobile consoles/TMS TrakStar system configurations to address the needs of facilities with large patient populations.

Since the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System produces a time varying magnetic field, its intended effect derives fundamentally from Faraday’s Law, which asserts that a time-varying magnetic field produces an electrical current in an adjacent conductive substance. During TMS, the conductive substance of interest is the brain, in particular the region of the cortex that lies beneath the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System treatment coil.

The electric current induced in this region of the cortex travels in a path orthogonal to the direction of the alternating magnetic field with the point of maximum field strength and greatest current located directly beneath the center of the coil, which is the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System component that rests against the patient’s head and transmits magnetic pulses to the patient’s brain. The induced current is tangential to the scalp at the cortical surface, and diminishes in magnitude with increasing depth.

In the targeted area of the motor cortex, where field strength achieves the stimulation threshold, it is postulated that neuronal depolarization occurs. This type of magnetic field is not intended to induce a seizure during therapeutic use. The peak magnetic field strength achieved with each pulse in the cortex is approximately 0.5 Tesla.

Although the mechanism of action is unknown, it is hypothesized that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System causes neuronal depolarization and changes in brain functional activity that may be associated with various physiologic changes in the brain associated with symptomatic relief of depression in the indicated population.

Some insurances will require prior authorizations. Prior to your appointment, we will check your benefits.

No, EMDR is not the same as hypnosis.

Upon your first appointment, a psychological evaluation will be conducted and an individualized treatment plan will be created.

Each individual is different. A treatment plan will be composed by our team to meet your treatment goals.

Everyone can benefit from therapy. It is a safe place to talk about issues, decrease negative thought patterns and learn how to navigate through stressful situations.

Anyone who has experienced emotional distress. Commonly, abuse victims, those who experienced trauma, first responders, and those with symptoms of anxiety.