TMS Center of Colorado repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Depression Denver therapy treatment

Depression? Consider repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

What’s rTMS?

Through a treatment coil, the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system generates highly concentrated, magnetic fields which turn on and off very rapidly. These magnetic fields are the same type and strength as those produced by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.

The treatment coil is applied to the head above the left prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is involved with mood regulation, and therefore is the location where the magnetic fields are focused. These magnetic fields do not directly affect the whole brain; they only reach about 2-3 centimeters into the brain directly beneath the treatment coil. As these magnetic fields move into the brain, they produce very small electrical currents. These electrical currents activate cells within the brain which are thought to release neurotransmitters which regulate mood.

Efficacy was established in a controlled clinical trial comparing active treatment with the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system to an inactive device. Patients treated with active NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced an average reduction in their depression symptom score of 22.1% compared to a 9% average reduction in patients receiving inactive treatment. NeuroStar-treated patients also experienced significant improvement in anxiety, appetite changes, aches and pains, and lack of energy associated with depression.

In an open label trial, which is most like a real world clinical practice, approximately 1 out of 2 patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced significant improvement in depression symptoms. Approximately 1 out of 3 patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced complete symptom relief at the end of 6 weeks. As with any antidepressant treatment, patients should be monitored for symptoms of worsening depression.

TMS Therapy should not be used in patients with implanted metallic devices or non-removable metallic objects in or around the head (for example, metal plates in the skull, aneurysm coils, etc.) because serious injury could result.

Patients with braces and metal fillings are acceptable for treatment; however, patients with other metal within their mouth should discuss this with their physician.

TMS Therapy should not be used in patients with implants controlled by physiological signals. This includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and vagus nerve stimulators (VNS).

TMS Therapy has been demonstrated to be safe and tolerable.
Over 10,000 active treatments were safely performed with NeuroStar TMS Therapy during the clinical trials.

No side effects such as weight gain, sexual problems, stomach problems, sleepiness, or dry mouth were seen during trials
There were no negative effects on memory or ability to concentrate

The most commonly reported side effect related to treatment was scalp pain or discomfort during the treatment session. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment. Less than 5% of patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in Major Depressive Disorder.