1. What is TMS therapy?

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. 

TMS therapy is a non-invasive therapy. This means that the procedure is not performed inside the brain. It is FDA-approved for treatment of depression that has not responded to medication treatment. 

It is performed in the outpatient setting, a doctor's office or clinic. It is covered by most insurance companies including Medicare and some states' Medicaid such as Ohio Medicaid. 

In depression, there's reduced activity in brain regions that control mood regulation. During TMS treatment, the TMS coil is placed directly on the patient's scalp to deliver magnetic pulses to these brain regions. These pulses induce activity of nerve cells in these areas to ease depressive symptoms and improve mood. 

Patients who have failed to achieve adequate response to depression medications or experienced intolerable side effects from medications, might benefit from TMS therapy.

TMS can be used as an adjunctive treatment to augment medication treatment and psychotherapy, or as an alternative treatment to medication treatment.

No. TMS and ECT are two very different treatment modalities. 

ECT also called "shock therapy" utilizes electrical stimulation, induces seizure, requires sedation with general anesthesia, and close monitoring for minutes to a few hours following treatment. 

TMS on the other hand, utilizes magnetic stimulation, does not require sedation with general anesthesia. Patients are able to resume daily activities immediately following treatment.

TMS is well-tolerated with few side effects including mild headaches which improve over the course of the treatment or with over the counter medications, scalp discomfort or pain  which diminishes over the course of the treatment. Most patients do not experience any side effects.

TMS therapy is FDA-approved for treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and for smoking cessation. Research continues into other potential uses for TMS including but not limited to epilepsy, pain, anxiety. 

No. TMS treatment is performed in the outpatient setting, a doctor's office or clinic. 

Patients are able to resume daily activities immediately following treatment.