Magnetic energy similar to what is used in an (MRI) is used to stimulate the areas of the brain that are sluggish and causing depressed mood.
Clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of NeuroStar® Advanced TMS Therapy in treating patients who have not benefited from prior antidepressant medication. NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy was studied in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, all of whom had not received satisfactory improvement with previous treatments.
You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair. A small, curved magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.
NeuroStar delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain. You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy: Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, each treatment takes about 19 minutes.
TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is used to treat depression by stimulating the brain non-invasively using electromagnetic fields, similar to those produced by an MRI machine. During TMS Therapy, a magnetic field is administered in very short pulses to the part of the brain that research has demonstrated to be associated with depression. The typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes daily over 5-7 weeks.
The NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy system uses short pulses of magnetic fields to stimulate the area of the brain that is thought to function abnormally in patients with depression. The magnetic field produces an electric current in the brain that stimulates the brain cells (neurons). This results in changes that are thought to be beneficial in the treatment of depression.
It usually takes time for healthcare insurers to establish coverage policies for newly approved treatments such as NeuroStar Advanced TMS. However, many commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans. See here for a full list of insurance plans that cover TMS.
Yes. In clinical trials, NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy was safely administered with and without other antidepressant medications.
NeuroStar Advanced TMS is the only TMS system with the durability of its effects established over 12 months. In a clinical trial, 2 out of 3 patients who had either responded to treatment or completely remitted their depression symptoms reported 12 months later that they remained at the level they were at the end of the trial. Additionally, after the trial, only 1 in 3 patients needed to return for ‘maintenance’ TMS sessions.
