Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Yes. TMS was approved by the FDA in 2008. The NeuroStar TMS Therapy system is the first TMS device to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depression.

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy system is also the first TMS device to have been evaluated in a large, multicenter, controlled clinical trial, as well as the only TMS system with the durability of its effects over 12 months established.

TMS is used to treat depression by stimulating the brain non-invasively using electromagnetic fields, similar to those produced by an MRI machine. During TMS Therapy, a magnetic field is administered in very short pulses to the part of the brain that research has demonstrated to be associated with depression.

TMS can be performed in a psychiatrist’s office, under his or her supervision, using the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system. For Burrell, these appointments take place at our Main Campus in Springfield, 1300 E. Bradford Parkway, Building A.

No. TMS does not require any anesthesia or sedation, as the patient remains awake and alert during the treatment. Patients can transport themselves to and from treatment.

No, TMS is non-systemic. Unlike medications, it is not taken by mouth and does not circulate in the blood stream throughout the body. Your provider, however, may recommend pills to help with remission.

NO. TMS is is non-invasive, meaning that it does not involve surgery.

The typical initial treatment course consists of five treatments per week over a six-week period, plus an additional three weeks taper period, for an average of 36 total treatments. Each treatment session lasts approximately 19-38 minutes, depending on what the doctor determines is right for you.

Results in clinical trials are overwhelmingly positive. In a clinical trial, 2 out of 3 patients who had seen their depression symptoms go away reported 12 months later that they remained at the level they were at the end of the trial. Additionally, after the trial, only 1 in 3 patients needed to return for “maintenance” TMS sessions.

Clinical trials also have proven the safety and effectiveness of this therapy in treating patients who have had inadequate response to prior antidepressant medications. In over 10,000 active treatments with the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system in clinical trials, no seizures were observed. TMS Therapy was also shown to have no negative effects on memory function in these studies.

No, the two procedures are very different. While both are effective in the treatment of depression, there are many differences in safety and tolerability.

During TMS Therapy, patients sit in a chair and are awake and alert throughout the entire 19-37 minute procedure – no sedation is used with TMS Therapy. Patients can transport themselves to and from treatment.

Yes. In clinical trials, NeuroStar TMS Therapy was safely administered with and without other antidepressant medications.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy has been shown to be well tolerated and the system has been demonstrated to be safe in clinical trials. Throughout over 10,000 active treatments performed in clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effect related to treatment was scalp discomfort during treatment sessions. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment. Less than 5% of patients treated with TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects.

In clinical trials, over 10,000 TMS treatments demonstrated its safety, with no occurrence of seizures. However, there is a small risk of a seizure occurring during treatment. This risk is no greater than what has been observed with oral antidepressant medications.

While TMS Therapy has been demonstrated to be effective, not all patients will benefit from it. Patients should be carefully monitored for worsening symptoms, signs or symptoms of suicidal behavior, and/or unusual behavior. Families and caregivers should also be aware of the need to observe patients and notify their treatment provider if symptoms worsen.

No. TMS Therapy uses the same type and strength of magnetic fields as MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), which have been used in tens of millions of patients around the world and have not been shown to cause tumors. The magnetic energy used in a full course of TMS Therapy is a small fraction of just one brain scan with an MRI.

No, TMS therapy was systematically evaluated for its effects on memory. Clinical trials demonstrated that TMS Therapy does not result in any negative effects on memory or concentration.

Not always, the most common side effect related to treatment was scalp discomfort during treatment sessions. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment.

If necessary, you can treat this discomfort with an over-the-counter analgesic. If these side effects persist, your doctor can temporarily reduce the strength of the magnetic field pulses being administered in order to make treatment more comfortable.

Less than 5% of patients treated with TMS discontinued treatment due to side effects.

Burrell accepts Medicare and works with most private insurance companies. Missouri Medicaid does not currently cover TMS services but is expected to in the near future. Please consult your personal insurance provider to see if TMS therapy is covered under your plan or contact tms@burrellcenter.com with questions.