Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): an effective option for managing treatment-resistant depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Expert behavioral medicine specialists and neurologists at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) offer an alternative and complementary treatment option for adult patients who have major depressive disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and have not tolerated or adequately responded to medications.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a procedure that uses focused, brief, repetitive magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is connected to the deeper circuits of the brain responsible for depression and OCD and help to normalize brain activity. TMS therapy does not require medications, sedation, or anesthesia, is very safe, and has very few side effects.
What is a typical TMS treatment?
TMS treatment sessions take place in the TMS Suite at the RNI. Patients undergoing the procedure sit in a comfortable chair, and a cap is placed on their head. An electromagnet is moved over the patient’s head until the motor strip is identified by movement in the patient’s thumb or arm. The electromagnet is then moved forward over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to stimulate the nerve cells.
Specific regions of the brain are stimulated to bring them and regions associated with mood back online and improve the patient’s symptoms. Some patients see improvement after their first TMS session, as opposed to the four-to-six weeks that is typical with drug therapies.
The treatment team includes a psychiatrist and a nurse. Treatment sessions generally last around 20-to-45 minutes. The initial session and set-up usually last about an hour. Once the treatment is completed, the patient can leave on his/her own and go back to normal activities.
A non-pharmacologic alternative
What makes TMS unique is that it is non-pharmacologic meaning it is not a medication. Therefore, a patient doesn’t need to take a pill every single day, which frees up the risk of related potential side effects.
In the case of depression, medications have all tried to increase levels of monoamines, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. However, these med- ications may not work for everyone. Some patients don’t benefit from medication therapies and continue to suffer from the effects of depression. TMS can provide another option for these patients as it works through a physical mechanism, not a pharmacologic mechanism.
Does insurance cover TMS?
Most insurance companies cover TMS, but some may have specific criteria for coverage. The RNI treatment team will work with you and your insurance company to determine if TMS is an option for you. Self-pay options are also available.
Patients can be referred by their doctors or can contact the RNI directly. The treatment team will help arrange an evaluation to determine if TMS is appropriate for you.
If you or someone you know is living with debilitating depression, contact the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute either by phone at 855-WVU-CARE, email at TMSReferral@wvumedicine.org, or online at TMS Therapy-Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
You may also request a TMS consultation by filling out a brief online form: TMS Clinic Consult Form – Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
Note: Patients with non-removable conductive metal in or near their heads may not be eligible for TMS.
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