What is TMS?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a depression treatment that uses magnetic stimulation to activate specific cells within the brain. In patients with resistant depression, the nerve cells that regulate mood are often underactive. TMS therapy helps change that.
What is TMS therapy like?
During TMS therapy at Texas Behavioral Health, your care provider places an electromagnetic coil directly on your scalp while you recline in a relaxed position. You won’t feel any discomfort or pain during treatment.
You’ll hear a small clicking sound, and you may feel small taps on your head as the machine delivers the pulses into the nerve cells that must be activated to help lift your depression. You can wear earplugs during the treatment to muffle the noise.
The whole treatment takes less than 40 minutes per session on average, and you can go back to your regular routine as soon as your treatment is complete.
Is TMS the same as electroconvulsive (electroshock) therapy?
No, it’s a completely different kind of therapy. While electroconvulsive therapy requires anesthesia and is typically performed in an inpatient setting, your Texas Behavioral Health care provider can do TMS onsite, and no anesthesia is needed.
Electroconvulsive therapy creates controlled seizures in the brain to help it function in a new way. TMS simply stimulates underactive areas of the brain into functioning normally.
How many TMS treatment sessions will I need?
It’s different for each patient, but most patients benefit from daily sessions (five days a week) for around 4-6 weeks. Your Texas Behavioral Health care provider creates a therapy plan designed for maximum effectiveness.
What are the benefits of TMS therapy?
TMS greatly reduces or even eliminates symptoms of depression in some patients. In patients who suffer from stubborn depression that doesn’t respond to antidepressants, other medications, or other treatment methods, TMS can be amazingly effective.
To enjoy continued depression relief after your TMS therapy, your Texas Behavioral Health doctor may recommend psychotherapy, medication, or both.
Want to learn more about how TMS helps with depression? Click the online scheduler or call the Texas Behavioral Health location closest to you to arrange a consultation now.
Committed to your care and safety during (COVID-19).
Depression doesn’t wait. Our TMS Team is working diligently to provide a safe, sterile and welcoming environment for all of our current and new TMS Patients. We are helping to fill the gap for patients who need TMS treatment during this uncertain time.
Strict protocol has been put in place to ensure our patients can continue treatment safely.
- Treaters are wearing gloves and masks. Changed after each patient.
- Each patient is screened with the approved CDC Questionnaire and encouraged to stay home if possibly exposed, exposed or feeling unwell.
- Patients are kept 6ft apart in waiting room in separate seating zones.
- New Patient intake appointments can be done via Telemedicine.
- All wait room chairs are cleaned after each patient.
- Our TMS rooms receive a deep cleaning at the end of each day and are sterilized after each patient. This includes door knobs, TMS Machine and TMS Chair.