Dr. Phil Discusses TMS Therapy For Depression

TMS may be an option for you when medications do not provide adequate response or produce unwanted side effects. If you prefer to not take medications, insurance companies now cover TMS for people who have never taken an antidepressant. TMS is virtually side-effect free. It simulates a location of the brain that is involved with controlling mood.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a groundbreaking approach to treating Major Depression. TMS has been used in research for over 30 years. Here at Southeastern Psychiatric Associates, we use a protocol called rTMS or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. TMS is FDA-approved for treating Major Depressive Disorder when medications don’t work. Some insurances now may approve TMS for people who have never taken an antidepressant. In clinical trials, TMS has been proven to be safe and effective.

TMS is well-tolerated, and the effects are usually long lasting. TMS is a highly effective treatment for patients with depression. In medical studies, more than half of patients respond and a third of patients achieve remission with TMS. This is remarkable, especially considering that most of these patients have been resistant to treatment with medications.

TMS is long-lasting. Two-thirds of patients retain their response one year after treatment. For patients who may relapse into depression, about 85% of patients respond to a subsequent course of TMS.

TMS is covered by all major Insurance companies: