Pros and Cons of TMS Therapy
Many people imagine depression care as a cycle of trying new prescriptions and hoping the side effects feel manageable. If you feel stuck or discouraged, NeuroStar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy offers another pathway that does not involve surgery or anesthesia and can integrate with your existing care. Contact Desert View Counseling to discuss the pros and cons of TMS therapy today.
Understanding NeuroStar TMS Therapy
NeuroStar TMS therapy is FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and for MDD in adolescents aged 15 or older. TMS therapy can offer an adjunct approach for obsessive-compulsive disorder alongside other treatments. The technology is similar to MRI in that it uses magnetic fields rather than electrical currents. Read about the many benefits and considerations of TMS treatment below.
Benefits of TMS
Many patients choose NeuroStar TMS treatment because it is non-invasive and does not require daily medication changes. Other pros of TMS therapy include:
- Can be combined with ongoing therapy and medications
- Does not require anesthesia or surgery
- May produce meaningful improvement for many patients
- Does not result in systemic medication exposure during sessions
- Involved in more than 65 studies to date
- Provided to more than 209,000 patients, which includes over 7.6 million treatments
In a large outcomes registry, 83% of patients experienced improvement with NeuroStar TMS for depression (Sackeim HA, et al., 2020). Results often become noticeable in four to six weeks of a seven-week course and can persist up to 12 months for some people (Dunner DL, et al., 2014).
Considerations and Possible Side Effects
Every treatment has trade-offs, and NeuroStar TMS therapy is no exception. There is a moderate risk of side effects, and most are temporary.
Considerations and possible side effects include:
- A multi-week schedule that requires regular attendance
- Well-tolerated but possible scalp discomfort or headache
- Rare risk of seizure, which your clinician screens for
- Varied results and possible retreatment
- Adjunct treatment for OCD, which should continue alongside other care
You should also note that not everyone is a candidate for TMS therapy due to certain medical histories or devices.
What To Expect From a Course of Care
A typical NeuroStar TMS therapy plan spans about seven weeks in a series of in-office sessions. You remain awake during your TMS session, and one of our clinicians positions a treatment coil to deliver the targeted magnetic pulse patterns to brain areas involved in regulating your mood. Many people continue their talk therapy and medications during TMS therapy, which can support stability as beneficial results emerge over several weeks.
Schedule a Consultation To Discuss the Pros and Cons of NeuroStar TMS Treatment
If you are considering TMS therapy, Desert View Counseling can guide you through an evidence-informed consultation and a clear plan tailored to your needs. Contact us to schedule a visit, understand the pros and cons of TMS therapy, and learn whether NeuroStar TMS is a good fit for your goals.
References
Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). The National Clinical Registry for TMS: Efficacy and Outcomes in Depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277(12):65-74.
Dunner DL, et al. (2014). A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 75(12):1394-1401.
