Now accepting new patients
Now accepting new patients
TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is a noninvasive, drug free treatment that uses focused magnetic pulses, similar in strength to an MRI, to revitalize areas of the brain that are underactive in people living with depression. When those regions wake back up, depression symptoms often ease, and for many people that relief lasts.
At Best Life Psychiatry we use NeuroStar Advanced Therapy, the most widely used TMS system in the country. To be clear about one common worry: TMS is not ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy. There is no electricity passed through the body, no sedation, and no memory loss.
Depression is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower. It often involves specific mood regulating circuits in the brain that have become underactive. NeuroStar places a curved magnetic coil gently against your head, over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the region most tied to mood. Short magnetic pulses pass painlessly through the skull and stimulate the nerve cells beneath.
Think of it like physical therapy for a part of the brain that has grown weak. Each session is one more repetition. Over a full course, those circuits strengthen and begin firing on their own again.
NeuroStar is FDA cleared for major depressive disorder, including depression that occurs alongside anxiety, and for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is most often chosen by people who have tried two or more antidepressants without finding the relief they needed.
TMS has a strong safety record. Because nothing enters your bloodstream, there are none of the systemic side effects that come with many medications, such as weight gain, sexual side effects, or fatigue. The most common side effect is mild to moderate discomfort at the treatment site, which usually fades within the first week of treatment. There are no negative effects on memory or sleep.
Who should not have TMS: people with non removable metal implants near the head, such as aneurysm clips or certain stimulators, should not receive TMS. Dr. McGaugh will review your full history during your consultation to confirm TMS is right for you.
Antidepressants travel through your whole body to reach the brain, which is why side effects can pile up. TMS targets one specific region directly, so it can help when medication has not, and it can be used on its own or alongside the treatment plan you already have. Never stop a prescribed medication on your own. Any changes should be made with your provider.
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