TMS SPECIALIST

What is TMS?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an innovative treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This treatment uniquely uses pulses of magnetic energy to alter specific processes inside your brain, such as mood regulation. 

TMS is different from the more conventional treatments for these mental health disorders, such as psychotherapy and medications. However, it can get you to a point where engaging in psychotherapy is more comfortable, and you can more easily achieve your goals. 

Typically, TMS offers improved symptoms or a complete elimination of symptoms. You can expect it to take a few weeks of consistent treatment to notice a significant improvement. 

Who can benefit from TMS?

TMS benefits two mental health disorders that Innovative Psychiatry, LLC specializes in managing. Depending on your health history and the success of your other treatments, your provider might recommend TMS for:

Treatment-resistant depression

Depression tends to respond well to antidepressants and psychotherapy in most cases. If you don’t experience improvements from more conventional therapies, your provider might recommend TMS to relieve symptoms like hopelessness, sadness, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.  

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD involves anxiety-driven uncontrolled thoughts called obsessions and compulsions, which are behaviors driven by your thoughts. The magnetic impulses target parts of the brain responsible for OCD symptoms.

What should I expect from TMS?

It can be intimidating to try a new treatment like TMS, especially if you’ve never tried any similar treatments that use energy. Fortunately, Innovative Psychiatry, LLC offers a warm and comfortable environment that makes the treatment both relaxing and enjoyable. 

During treatment, you recline in a comfortable chair with a pair of earplugs in your ears. Your provider places an electromagnetic coil securely against your head, which switches on and off to produce electromagnetic pulses. To you, the pulses sound like a few seconds of tapping or clicking.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes, and your provider can adjust the level of magnetic energy throughout the process. When you leave, you can return to your typical daily routine, including work and driving. 

To find out more about TMS and if it fits into your care plan for OCD or depression, call Innovative Psychiatry, LLC, or book an appointment online today. 

PATIENT PROCESS
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NO COST CONSULTATION: Meeting with a patient consultant to learn about the TMS therapy treatment process and begin the insurance paperwork. 

EVALUATION: Meeting with one of our providers to further investigate whether TMS is right for you.

FIRST APPOINTMENT: Our provider will identify the precise areas of your brain that control depression, and establish your unique treatment settings on the TMS device 

TMS TREATMENT: 

• Daily 20-30 minute sessions (approximately 6-9 weeks)
• During your treatment you can read, watch tv or use your phone. 
• TMS requires no downtime. After each session, you can drive yourself home, or go back to work. 
• Patients typically feel an improvement within 3-4 weeks

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 
How is TMS different from other treatments?
TMS is very different from medications and talk therapy. Medications aren't as customizable - they may not work for genetic reasons and could cause moderate to severe side effects. Symptoms of depression can interfere with the comfort and effectiveness of talk therapy. TMS is targeted to the part of the brain that regulates mood, treating depression as its neurological source.

Does TMS affect my whole body, or just my brain?
The magnetic position and magnetic dose used in TMS therapy is customized to you during your first appointment. Side effects are oftentimes limited to the treatment site, such as headaches or toothaches, rather than the entire body. 

Does it hurt? 

During the session, you will feel a tapping sensation on your head. Each treatment session lasts around 19 minutes. Some NeuroStar patients experience mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site during the first week of treatment

Is TMS the same as ECT?
No, ECT induces a seizure and requires a hospital setting, anesthesia, and extended recovery time. ECT is associated with side effects like memory loss, mood changes, and nausea. TMS is a treatment applied directly to the specific area of your brain that regulates mood, requires no hospitalization, anesthesia, or downtime, and has minimal side effects like scalp discomfort, headaches or toothaches.