Find Freedom from Depression
For many individuals with depression, therapy and medication are effective treatments, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. For others, though, depression can be more severe – it may not respond to medication and might even require multiday hospitalizations to ensure the patient’s safety if suicidal thoughts become overwhelming.
A new treatment offers hope for patients with severe depression. Ozark Center is the first and only in the region to utilize NeuroStar® transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, a proven and effective non-drug, non-invasive treatment for patients with major depression who have not seen success with at least one antidepressant medication.
TMS uses a highly targeted, pulsed magnetic field, similar to what is produced by an MRI machine. This stimulates nerves in the part of the brain thought to control mood, making long-term remission from severe depression possible.
With TMS therapy, you:
- Receive outpatient treatment right in your provider’s office
- Recline comfortably and can remain awake during treatment
- Return to normal activities, including driving, right away
- Experience no negative effects on sleep or memory
The procedure takes 19 – 40 minutes and only requires you to lie in a chair and stay awake as a small magnetic coil is placed on your head. A full course of treatment generally involves five sessions per week for four to six weeks, with up to three weeks of tapering sessions after that.
TMS therapy is covered by most insurances, including Medicare, and is recommended by American Psychological Association. TMS is FDA-approved for individuals 21 years of age or older.
For more information, call 417.347.7816.
Learn more about TMS at Ozark Center
FAQs
TMS is a non-invasive FDA-approved therapy that uses short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls mood. These pulses can have a lasting effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, helping people suffering from depression achieve long-term remission from depression symptoms. Because TMS is not a drug, it doesn’t cause the side effects that are often associated with antidepressants.
If you suffer from depression but have not benefited from antidepressant medications—or are not happy with their side effects—TMS may be right for you. TMS may also be a good choice if you have tried switching medications for depression but have still not found remission from your symptoms.
TMS is a non-drug, non-invasive therapy that can help you achieve long-term relief from the symptoms of depression. Many people’s depression symptoms significantly improve or go away after four to six weeks of treatment. In clinical studies, TMS has been shown to provide acute treatment response and remission for over one year.
An FDA-approved depression treatment, TMS is safe and easy to tolerate. Because it’s non-drug and non-invasive, it’s free of systemic side effects. TMS does not have any effects on memory or sleep. The most common side effect associated with TMS is mild to moderate pain or discomfort that typically subsides within the first week of treatment. Click here for a full list of possible side effects associated with TMS.
TMS has been systematically evaluated for its effects on memory. These clinical trials demonstrated that TMS does not result in any adverse effects on memory or concentration.
During the session, you will feel a tapping sensation on your head. Each treatment session lasts between 19 and 40 minutes. Some TMS patients experience mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site during the first week of treatment. This is usually temporary and subsides in subsequent treatments.
TMS is not ECT (or electroconvulsive “shock” therapy). TMS uses magnetic waves similar in strength to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). TMS is precise and focused, targeting treatment at the source of the depression – your brain. With TMS you are fully awake and alert during treatment and may resume daily activities immediately afterwards. On the other hand, ECT applies direct electrical current through the skull and into the brain rather than magnetic waves. Because ECT uses direct electrical current, it must be done under anesthesia. For more details, ask your doctor about the difference between TMS and ECT.
TMS is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare, usually after medication options have proven ineffective in your major depression treatment. Contact your insurance company for specific information about your plan.