Is TMS Therapy right for me?

If you have depression, you have probably already been on antidepressant medications, with or without psychotherapy. For some people, this works very well.

The STAR*D Study Trial* has shown that the likelihood to getting well (remission) with medications diminishes with each successive (monotherapy) medication trial, being about 7% after 4 medication trials.

It also shows that the likelihood of stopping the medications due to side effects increases with each new successive medication trial. Many patients, thus, end up on multiple antidepressants in order to achieve response and remission, often with significant medications side effects.

TMS Therapy offers an alternative treatment option as early as after 1 failed medication trial. Clinical evidence suggests that if TMS Therapy is used as monotherapy (without medications), patients have higher response rates (1 out of 2 patients) and higher remission rates (1 out 3 patients) than if one undergoes further medication trials. We see even better rates in our practice, as we often start TMS Therapy as an add-on to existing medications, with the goal to back off some (or all) of the medications later on. 

Many people with depression report that they feel as if they are in “fog,” having difficulty making decisions and they might not be able to fully appreciate the benefits of TMS Therapy. Having a loved one with you during consultation can be very helpful in evaluating the pros and cons in getting TMS Therapy for your depressionl.

*STAR*D Study: The NIMH-funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of different treatments for people with major depression who have not responded to initial treatment with an antidepressant.

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Next: Cost of Depression