Now accepting new patients
Now accepting new patients
Watching your teenager struggle with depression is one of the hardest things a parent can face, especially when medication has not helped enough. There is now another path. NeuroStar TMS for teens is FDA cleared as an add on treatment for adolescents ages 15 to 21 with major depressive disorder. It is the first and only TMS therapy cleared for this age group.
Drug free
Nothing enters the bloodstream, so there are none of the systemic side effects that worry many parents.
Noninvasive
No needles, no sedation, no anesthesia. Your teen is awake the whole time.
Used alongside their plan
TMS is an adjunct treatment, meaning it works together with antidepressant medication and therapy rather than replacing them.
Back to life right away
After a session your teen can return to school, sports, and friends with no downtime.
Teen depression often involves the same underactive mood circuits seen in adults. NeuroStar uses gentle, focused magnetic pulses to stimulate the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the region tied to mood regulation, helping those circuits work the way they should. In studies that supported the FDA clearance, a large majority of adolescents treated saw clinically meaningful improvement in their depression when NeuroStar was used alongside antidepressant therapy.
The course mirrors the adult experience: a mapping visit first, then daily sessions of about 19 to 37 minutes, 5 days per week, over roughly 6 to 7 weeks. Your teen reclines, feels a tapping on the scalp, and can read or listen to music. A parent or guardian is part of the process throughout, and Dr. McGaugh will walk your family through every step.
TMS for teens is typically considered when one or more antidepressants have not brought enough relief. The best way to know is a conversation. Dr. McGaugh will review your teen’s history, current treatment, and goals to see whether TMS is a good fit, and answer every question you and your teen have.
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