Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

rTMS involves placing a metal coil on the left forehead and having the electrical current to the coil go on and off quickly. The current makes the coil act like a magnet, and the magnet then generates an electrical current that penetrates the skull and enters the brain. The benefits of TMS are that it provides stimulation to the nerve cells directly at the source rather than via a medication that affects the whole body which can cause unwanted side effects. For treatment of depression, the target of the current is an area of the brain called the “left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex”. It has been shown that activating this brain area in depressed patients results in improvement of depression. rTMS has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with depression who have not improved after treatment with antidepressant medications. In research studies which we participated in, about 60% of depressed patients with “treatment resistant depression” responded to a course of rTMS, and about 60% of these responders maintained their response to treatment for at least a year.

rTMS is now covered by most insurance companies for treatment of individuals with major (non-bipolar) depression who have not responded to antidepressants. Some insurance companies will also provide coverage for individuals with bipolar depression. Treatment involves about 36 sessions which last about 20 minutes and are usually administered once daily. Side effects of the treatment are generally mild and include pain during the treatment, headache after the treatment, the possibility of a burn on the scalp where the electrodes from the coil touch the skin, and rare seizures or convulsions. rTMS does not effect memory and patients often drive to the Center for treatment and then drive home or to work.

  • Treatment directly at the source
  • 60% response rate, lasts up to one year
  • Covered by most insurance plans

We use the NeuroStar system, the #1 doctor recommended TMS machine.
Learn More About NeuroStar TMS Therapy