What is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is a method of brain stimulation used to treat patients with treatment-resistant depression that has been shown to be safe and effective. The procedure is FDA-cleared, non-invasive, and well tolerated. A typical treatment plan lasts four to eight weeks depending on the patient’s response. The procedure is performed daily in sessions of about 30-60 minutes. Patients can resume regular activities immediately after each session.

How does TMS work?
TMS uses a targeted pulsed magnetic field, similar to what is used in an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine. While the patient is awake and alert, TMS Therapy stimulates areas of the brain that are under active in depression restoring it to normal function. TMS treatment requires no surgery or sedation of any kind and patients can resume regular activity immediately after each treatment session.

How is TMS different from antidepressant medications?
Medications and TMS both affect electro-chemical signaling between neurons in the brain, but they achieve results in different ways. The biggest difference is that medications are pharmaceutical drugs circulated in the bloodstream. In contrast, TMS therapy is a procedure localized to a small target area on the scalp. Thus, unpleasant side effects from medication such as weight gain, headache or sexual side effects are non-existent.

Are there any side effects? Is it Safe?
Since TMS does not circulate through the bloodstream, it is not associated with the common side effects of antidepressant medications such as dry mouth, upset stomach, dizziness, drowsiness, weight gain, or sexual dysfunction. Some patients report mild to moderate discomfort during the procedure, but these effects are temporary can be mitigated with over the counter tylenol or ibuprofen.

How effective is TMS?
TMS is highly effective. TMS is effective in approximately 60% of patients, making it twice as effective as antidepressant medications. More important, 50% of these patients will experience complete remission for over 1 year. Our center has documented a success rate that is 3 to 3.5 times higher than suggested by the FDA.

How long is TMS therapy treatment?
While treatments plans vary from patient to patient, TMS therapy easily fits into most daily routines without major disruption. A typical course of treatment lasts four to eight weeks depending on the patient’s response. The procedure is performed daily in sessions of about 30-60 minutes and patients can resume regular activities immediately after each session.

How much does TMS therapy cost and is it covered by insurance?
As coverage and payment can vary based upon the patient’s specific plan and guidelines, it is best to contact the insurance company to verify eligibility, benefits, and coverage for TMS Therapy. Some insurance companies partially cover TMS.






What separates Coastal Behavioral Health from all other TMS centers?

CBH utilizes highly advanced neuroimaging known as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to accurately identify areas of the brain that are dysfunctional, specific to each client’s problems. Beyond a traditional MRI scan, fMRI shows brain activity in real time. Personalized, neuroimaging scans are then coupled with our highly sophisticated brain mapping system to target dysfunctional brain centers during TMS therapy.

Neuronavigation/Brain Mapping

How does it work?

After a series of neuroimaging scans have been completed, the personalized scans are combined with our state-of-the-art brain mapping system to precisely locate and target areas for TMS therapy. This is the most accurate method of treatment site location and ensures that our physicians confidently and precisely position the TMS magnet on the scalp for successful treatment. This technique has demonstrated a higher percentage of positive responses and remission rates to TMS therapy. In contrast, standard or traditional TMS protocols uses a “one size fits all all,” approach resulting in a one to two centimeter difference, yielding a much lower response to TMS Therapy.

How does this differ from TMS performed at all other centers?

fMRI-guided, multi-site TMS is different from traditional TMS in the following ways:

Multiple treatment sites:Since we use your personal neuroimaging scans, we are able to target multiple problematic areas that you may suffer from in addition to depression such as anxiety, chronic pain such as tinnitus, OCD, or cognitive deficits. Traditional TMS targets only 1 site.

Better response and remission rates: The most commonly used method for determining coil placement during TMS therapy is the “5-cm rule.” It involves isolating the motor cortex and moving the coil 5 cm forward. Studies have shown, however, that this method may result in accurate placement only about 70% of the time. The main drawback to this is that it fails to account for differences in head size and individual anatomy.

TMS Adjustment: Based on individual progress, we can adjust the TMS treatment plan including treatment sites. This ensures that you get the most out your TMS therapy. This is done by having weekly or bi-weekly examinations with your physician, obtaining objective rating scales, and speaking with family or other clinicians.