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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation – or TMS, for short – is a clinically proven, FDA-approved therapy that is used to treat people with mental health diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and OCD who have not seen satisfactory improvement with medication. It is clinically proven to help patients suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and other brain health issues. Since 2010, the American Psychiatric Association has recommended TMS for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

TMS: What to Expect

Many people who opt for TMS therapy are excited – as well as curious about what to expect. We’ve identified some important things to know about that occur at each stage of treatment, including before, during, and after.

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Before TMS Treatment

  • At your initial treatment consultation, one of our dedicated team members will answer any questions you have and review a proposed course of treatment with you.

  • We will work on obtaining authorization from your insurance company, which can take 1-6 weeks.

  • No surprises! Before we begin treatment, you will know the estimated total cost per treatment, length of treatment, and your scheduling options.

During TMS Treatment

  • Treatment occurs every workday (Monday through Friday) for about 6-8 weeks.

    • Appointment length is about 30 minutes on average.

  • At your first appointment, a licensed provider will take measurements of your head to determine proper placement of the treatment coil. Our technician will place the magnet in this area for each treatment session

  • You will hear a clicking sound and feel a slight tapping sensation on your head. The procedure is painless.

  • At each session, your progress, tolerance, and mood will be evaluated by your technician.

  • You will meet with a provider regularly to review your progress and make any adjustments to the treatment protocol.

After TMS Treatment

  • There is no downtime after a treatment session! No need to arrange a ride – and you can go about your usual daily activities afterward.

  • Changes in your mental wellbeing are usually noticed towards the end of treatment or after treatment completion. You may continue to experience the benefits with or without the continuation of medication

  • TMS should have a lasting effect, which can vary among individuals. We’ll schedule you for a visit after treatment is completed to hear how you are doing.

  • We will check in with you a few times in the year after treatment. Some people benefit from repeated TMS treatments.

FAQs About TMS

We’ve collected the following frequently asked questions about TMS. If you don’t see your question answered below, call at (720) 724-3668 or email info@denverwellness.com, and we’ll be happy to answer whatever questions you may have.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and effective treatment for people who have not gotten sufficient relief from medication and therapy for a mental health diagnosis.

TMS therapy is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression.

Patients with PTSD or those wishing to quit smoking or enhance overall brain function have also successfully used TMS. However, insurance may not cover these reasons. At this time, DWA is not able to offer TMS therapy for these reasons.

TMS is highly effective. The vast majority – more than 70% – of patients who receive the full course of TMS treatment enjoy significant results. Many report substantial relief of their symptoms or that they are now symptom-free.

The benefits of TMS therapy include:

  • It is safe, effective, and convenient. Our providers are specially trained to perform this treatment, under the supervision of a board-certified psychiatrist, right here in our office. There is no downtime following the procedure, so you are able to immediately return to your daily activities after treatment. TMS therapy is not harmful and will not affect cognitive function.
  • An alternative to medication or medication adjuvant. As a nonpharmacological mental health solution, there are no side effects such as the side effects that commonly occur with the use of antidepressants or other psychiatric medications, such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
  • It is pain-free and rarely uncomfortable. It is a noninvasive procedure and no anesthesia, local or otherwise, is necessary.
  • It offers long-term effects, for up to several years for most people. How long the effects last will vary by person, and touch-up treatments are available as needed.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is designed for adolescents aged 15 years to 17 years and adults aged 18 years and older.

It is a painless, noninvasive, in-office procedure that involves placing a specially designed coil just behind your forehead, which delivers short, harmless pulses of magnetic energy over the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation and decision-making. This stimulates nerve cell activity, which is typically low in people with depression and other conditions.

No. TMS uses no radiation and no electrical stimulation. It does not affect cognitive functioning, such as memory.

TMS therapy is not appropriate for people with metal implants in their head.

During your TMS therapy session, you will sit in a comfortable chair and a specially designed paddle is placed on the left side of your head. When the TMS machine is turned on, the paddle will make clicking sounds as it delivers magnetic waves. You should be able to feel a slight tapping sensation while this occurs.

On average, an individual treatment session takes about 15-20 minutes.

There is no downtime afterward, and you are free to go about your usual daily tasks.

Yes. There is no need for anesthesia. TMS therapy is noninvasive and painless.

TMS should not be confused with electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. The two are entirely different and distinct procedures. ECT uses electrical stimulation to trigger seizures in the brain. TMS uses magnetic energy to stimulate nerve cells.

Not necessarily. TMS can be used on its own – or alongside medications, such as antidepressants. Most often, TMS is used in people who cannot tolerate the side effects of certain medications. Whether or not you should undergo TMS alone or in conjunction with medication will depend on the condition being treated, type of medication you’re taking, and other factors. The most important thing is not to make any sudden changes in your medications without first consulting your provider.

Side effects of TMS therapy are rare. If anything, a small number of people report minor scalp discomfort, tingling, or headaches during the procedure that quickly improve after the treatment session is over. If you are uncomfortable, however, your provider can adjust the stimulation level to alleviate any discomfort you may be experiencing.

There is also a very small chance of seizures or mania as a result of a TMS therapy session – however, this is generally due to the presence of an already existing underlying condition.

TMS is covered by most major insurance companies as a treatment for medication-resistant depression.

We work with these companies every day and will advocate for the highest level of coverage on your behalf. Each insurance company may have different requirements or guidelines, including that the person should have already taken medications and had therapy for a certain amount of time without relief.

The insurance paperwork takes about 1 to 6 weeks to complete. How much treatment costs your insurance will pay for will depend on your policy. We will provide you with a financial estimate

We accept self-pay for TMS therapy if you do not have insurance or if your insurance is not willing to approve your prior authorization for treatment. In these cases, a full course of TMS treatment is about $6,000. You can pay per treatment session or upfront for the total treatment course.

TMS is a highly effective treatment. Think of it this way, if TMS didn’t work, you can bet that your insurance company wouldn’t be paying for you to get it!

Here are the general outcome statistics for TMS therapy:

TMS has a success rate of between 70% and 80%, meaning that the vast majority of people find significant relief after completing the full course of treatment. About 50% of people experience complete remission, meaning their symptoms are completely absent.

To understand TMS success rates, it’s important to understand medication success rates.

  • A large clinical study called the STAR*D study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), found that commonly prescribed medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are only successful 27.5% of the time.
  • If SSRIs don’t work – as is the case for many individuals with treatment-resistant depression – the success rate for the medication decreases. By the time an individual tries four different medications, the next medication they try will have a success rate of less than 7%.
  • Many individuals spend 4-8 months trying different medications when the probability of a symptom-free existence with medication appears unlikely.

At Denver Wellness Associates, we use state-of-the-art CloudTMS and MagVenture transcranial magnetic stimulation equipment.

TMS Therapy Near Me

Contact Denver Wellness Associates today to talk to one of our providers about transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS therapy. This noninvasive, in-office procedure is used to treat patients with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD and OCD.

To get started, call us at (720) 724-3668, email us at info@denverwellness.com, or schedule your appointment now.