Category: Services

National Media

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been featured in several prominent news publications highlighting its success in treating depression. Among these publications are: National Geographic, Scientific American, Psychiatric Times, Harvard Health, Men’s Health, and Forbes. See below for more news stories discussing the latest applications of TMS Therapy.

12/07/2021 TMS: A Useful Clinical Tool for Treatment-Resistant Depression

08/11/2021 Examining the Benefits of TMS

07/15/2021 Parkinson’s News Today: New Method to Improve Brain Stimulation Treatments

04/07/2021 Medical Xpress: New brain-stimulating technology to relieve pain and depression

03/29/2021 Alaska Public Media: LISTEN: Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression

03/26/2021 PsychiatryAdvisor: The COVID-19 Pandemic: Helping Those Who Suffer in Silence

02/04/2021 Northwestern University: Brain stimulation boosts memory replay, accuracy

01/31/2021 CTVNews Canada: Pandemic spurs scientists to look closer at an experimental treatment for severe depression

01/28/2021 VeryWell Health: Study: Brain Stimulation Can Be Individualized to Treat Depression

01/20/2021 Healthline: What You Need to Know About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy

01/19/2021 Scientific American: Electrical Brain Stimulation May Alleviate Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors

12/25/2020 Greely Tribune: Mental Health Matters: Defining depression and anxiety, treatment options  

12/21/2020 United Press International: Brain stimulation may reduce depression and PTSD, study finds 

12/21/2020 EurekAlert: Targeted brain stimulation dulls social pain

12/11/2020 Life Sciences: Repetitive TMS significantly improves post-stroke depression

10/20/2020 Department of Veterans Affairs: Brain stimulation for Alzheimer’s on the horizon?

09/22/2020 Globe Newswire: Neuronetics Reveals New Depression Data at Clinical TMS Society’s Virtual Events

09/20/2020 StandfordDaily: New Stanford Medicine depression treatment has 90% success rate, study finds

08/30/2020 PsychCentral: The Breaking and Already Known News is that TMS Therapy for Depression Works

07/23/2020 KOAA News5: Your Healthy Family: Getting help with the stress of uncertainty during a pandemic

07/21/2020 MedicalXpress: Study sheds light on the source of unease and tension to help effectively treat anxiety

07/21/2020 The Conversation: Neurostimulation may herald a new treatment for depression

07/10/2020 Healio: TMS offers similar benefit for MDD patients with and without comorbid PTSD

06/02/2020 Psychology Today: A Potentially Powerful Treatment for Refractory Depression

04/01/2020 Cyprus Mail: Psychiatrist talks mental health in time of pandemic

03/27/2020 ADDitude: Treatment for Depression and ADHD: Treating Comorbid Mood Disorders Safely

03/06/2020 Medscape: FDA Grants TMS Device Breakthrough Designation for Bipolar Depression

02/21/2020 CBS8: ‘A complete change’ | Inside the new alternative treatment for depression

02/18/2020 Medical News: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Depression

02/03/2020 KiviTV: FINDING HOPE: A New Way to Fight Depression

01/09/2020 Psychiatric Times: Bipolar Disorder: Practice-Changing Trials from 2019

12/16/2019 Cision: Advanced Treatment For Depression Without Medication

12/04/2019 Fox5: After 20 years of depression, Georgia woman finds a breakthrough: TMS

11/27/2019 IVDailyNews: Clinical Study Suggests TMS Effective for Insomnia

11/11/2019 News9: Life-changing treatment

10/28/2019 News 5: TMS provides hope for depression patients

09/24/2019 EurekaAlert: TMS prevents anxiety-induced decrease in motor performances

09/16/2019 World Health: TMS May Prevent Age Related Memory Decline

09/09/2019 Medical News Today: dTMS may help where other therapies fail

08/28/2019 Medical Xpress: Veterans in TMS for PTSD Study

08/22/2019 The Doctor Weighs In: What You Need to Know About TMS for Depression

08/13/2019 BBR Foundation: Combining TMS with Psychotherapy for Treating Depression and OCD

08/12/2019 Observer: Using a technology-based program to treat depression

08/07/2019 KDKA: New Technology To Treat Depression

08/01/2019 Cision: First TMS Patient Treated Under New Japan Reimbursement Policy

07/22/2019 Healio: TMS can offer relief from anxiety

07/17/2019 Next Avenue: How TMS Can Improve Memory

07/08/2019 Cision: NeuroStar® Patient Outcomes Registry is Now The World’s Largest in Major Depressive Disorder

07/01/2019 Gazette: Treating major depression with eight weeks of TMS treatment

06/27/2019 Wayne Independent: VA to offer TMS

06/24/2019 Chron: Psychiatrist offers new treatment options for depression

06/18/2019 Harvard Health: An underused option for severe depression

06/17/2019 BioSpectrum: Teijin Pharma starts sale of TMS device in Japan

06/13/2019 Tennessean: Here are three things everyone gets wrong about depression

06/05/2019 Country Living: Everything you need to know about brain fog

05/20/2019 KOAA: Mom gets postpartum help through TMS treatment

05/14/2019 Cision: Survey Finds Majority of Americans Don’t Feel Equipped to Discuss Depression With Loved Ones

05/09/2019 Open Access Gov: Maternal Mental Health Treatments for Postnatal depression

05/06/2019 NorthJersey: Help is on the way for those who suffer

05/04/2019 PsychCentral: Brain Stimulation Improves Memory of Older Adults

05/03/2019 PsychAdvisor: rTMS Effective for Depression, Anxiety

04/10/2019 Women You Should Know: Stomping Stigmas – My Real Talk

04/05/2019 St George News: Two Southern Utah providers offer new alternative for treating depression

04/03/2019 Spokesman-Review: TMS treatment and increasing mental health dialogue

03/29/2019 El Paso Inc: How TMS therapy pulled me out of depression

03/28/2019 MedTechDive: Neuronetics gets Japanese coverage for TMS Therapy

03/08/2019 Psychology Today: New Inventions for Treating Depression

02/21/2019 WBTV: Woman battling 20-year depression finds relief from little-known treatment

02/05/2019 MD Mag: Exploring TMS Therapy for Depressed Patients

02/05/2019 WTSP: Medication-free therapy shows promising results for treating depression

01/30/2019 WFLA: Breakthrough treatment for depression available

01/27/2019 Spokesman-Review: Mental-health journey a positive work in progress

01/17/2019 Science Trends: Can We Predict Who Will Respond To Brain Stimulation Treatment For Depression?

01/14/2019 MedShadow: 5 Non-Drug Treatments for Depression

01/03/2019 PsychCentral: What is TMS?

For more news articles featuring TMS, please see this Press Coverage page.

Since the 1980s, transcranial magnetic stimulation has been used to study the nerve fibers that carry information about movements from the brain to the spinal cord and on to the muscles. In the late 1990s, physicians began to explore the therapeutic potential of transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of a variety of diseases, with depression being the most thoroughly studied to date. Since then, more than 100 randomized, controlled trials studying transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment for depression have been conducted by investigators throughout the world.

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) was FDA-cleared in October 2008 for patients suffering from depression who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medications. Using pulsed magnetic fields, transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy stimulates the part of the brain thought to be involved with mood regulation. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS is a short outpatient procedure, performed in your psychiatrist’s office under his or her supervision while you remain awake and alert. The typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes, depending on what the doctor determines is the correct protocol, daily over 4-6 weeks.

About NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS

The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) system, developed by Neuronetics, was the first non-systemic and non-invasive depression treatment cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients who have not benefited from prior antidepressant treatment.

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS is:

Non-invasive, meaning that it does not involve surgery. It does not require any anesthesia or sedation, as the patient remains awake and alert during the treatment.

Non-systemic, meaning that it is not taken by mouth and does not circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body.

Through a magnetic coil, the NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS 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 like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Since depression is thought to be the result of an imbalance of these chemicals in the brain, TMS can restore that balance and, thus, relieve depression.

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS is a treatment cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients suffering from depression who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant treatment. TMS stands for “transcranial magnetic stimulation.”

TMS Therapy is a treatment that can be performed in a psychiatrist’s office, under his or her supervision, using a medical device called the NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS system. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy TMS is:

Non-invasive, meaning that it does not involve surgery. It does not require any anesthesia or sedation, as the patient remains awake and alert during the treatment

Non-systemic, meaning that it is not taken by mouth and does not circulate in the blood stream throughout the body.

The typical initial treatment course consists of at least 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 20-30 total treatments. Each treatment session lasts approximately 19-40 minutes, depending on what the doctor determines is the correct protocol.

TMS+YOU is an online community and national patient advocacy site for TMS Therapy. Those considering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation can connect with patients who have had the treatment to answer questions, share insights, and get the latest information.

What is major depression?

Major depressive disorder is a condition which lasts two or more weeks and interferes with a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks and enjoyed activities that previously brought pleasure. This condition affects approximately 16 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older.¹

What causes major depression?

The exact cause of depression is not known, but leading research in Neuroscience points to an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters as the manifestation of depression. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. A person’s genetic make-up and life history may also determine a person’s tendency to become depressed.

How prevalent is depression?

In 2016 a study conducted by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality reported that major depressive disorder will affect approximately 16 million American adults (about 6.7% of the US population) in a given year. ¹

Is depression a serious disease?

Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health maintains that, “Depressive illness can often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person.” A national study of depression found that nearly all the respondents who reported a major depressive disorder also reported that their social and/or work lives were negatively affected by their illness.¹ In 2010, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $210 billion in the US² and depression was the second leading cause of disability, accounting for almost 20% of all years of life lost to disability and premature death.³ Depression can also be a lethal disease. Each year in the US, over 30,000 people die by suicide, 60% of whom suffer from depression.^{4, 5}

Is there a depression cure?

There is no known cure for depression but with effective treatment, many patients can remain symptom free.

Are some people more likely to become depressed than others?

There are many factors which can predispose certain people towards depression more than others. However, the exact causation between these factors and the occurrence of depression are still being researched and debated. Some of these risk factors include:

Suffering from certain medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders

Hereditary predispositions to depression passed through genes.

Experiencing a serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any stressful change in life pattern.

Taking certain medications that may increase vulnerability to depression

What are the symptoms of depression?

According to the standard diagnosis guide (DSM-V) published by the American Psychiatric Association, depression is diagnosed when an individual is experiencing either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure plus four or more of the following depression symptoms during the same two-week period:

Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain (a change of more than five percent of body weight in a month)

Significant increase or decrease in appetite

Excessive sleepiness or insomnia

Agitation and restlessness

Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt nearly every day

Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions

Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

If you feel you are experiencing any of these depression symptoms, contact your doctor and speak with them about your depression treatment options.

What are the current approved treatments for depression?

Depression is most often treated with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and antidepressant medications administered together. Although antidepressants can be effective for many patients, they do not work for everybody. Additionally, since antidepressants are typically taken by mouth, they circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body, often resulting in unwanted side effects. More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from antidepressant medications and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For these patients, alternative treatments are available which usually involve the use of a medical device. These treatments include: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These pulses are thought to have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitters levels. Treating depression with transcranial magnetic stimulation, may provide an alternative depression treatment for those who have not benefited from prior antidepressant medication.

References:

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

Greenberg PE, et al. The Economic Burden of Adults With Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2005 and 2010). J Clin Psychiatry. 2015; 76(2):155-162.

US Burden of Disease Collaborators. The state of US health, 1990-2010: burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. JAMA, 310(6): 591-608, 2013.

Arias E, Heron M, Xu JQ. United States life tables, 2012. National vital statistics reports; vol 65 no 8. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Courtet, P. and Lopez-Castroman, J. (2017), Antidepressants and suicide risk in depression. World Psychiatry, 16: 317-318. doi:10.1002/wps.20460

 

The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person. However, depression is generally observed as being a persistent state of sadness or a loss of the ability to experience pleasure. Those experiencing depression often lose interest in everyday activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

According to the standard diagnosis guide (DSM-V) published by the American Psychiatric Association, depression is diagnosed when an individual is experiencing either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure plus four or more of the following symptoms during the same two-week period:

• Depressed mood that persists or is present nearly every day.
• Loss of interest/pleasure in activities most days.
• Significant weight loss (without dieting) or gain of at least five percent of total weight in one month.
• Excessive sleepiness or insomnia.
• Feeling restless or slow nearly every day, observable by others.
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
• Decreased concentration paired with indecisiveness, observable by others.
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

If you feel you are experiencing any of these depression symptoms, contact your doctor and speak with them about your depression treatment options.

Depression is a serious medical illness affecting more than 16 million American adults every year, 6.7% of all U.S. adults¹. Often a debilitating disorder, depression results in a persistent state of sadness or loss of interest or pleasure which interferes with an individual’s thoughts, behavior, mood, and physical health. Learn more about depression symptoms.

In 2010, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $210 billion in the US² and depression was the second leading cause of disability, accounting for almost 20% of all years of life lost to disability and premature death.³

Depression can be a lethal disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2017, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 47,000 people. Statistics show that 60% of whom suffer from depression.⁵ Overall, women are almost twice as likely as men to suffer from depression; however, some experts feel that depression in men is under-reported.⁶ Depression has no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries. About two-thirds of those who experience an episode of depression will have at least one other episode in their lives.

While the exact cause of depression is not known, the leading scientific theory is that depression is caused by decreased activity in the neural networks of the brain that regulate emotion and motivation. Increasing levels of neurotransmitters in the brain has been found to reactivate these neural networks, or create new networks. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. Depression is most often treated with antidepressant medications. It is believed that antidepressant medications work by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters. Learn about depression treatment options.

More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from antidepressants and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For these patients, they need a new way back.

References:

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

Greenberg PE, et al. The Economic Burden of Adults With Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2005 and 2010). J Clin Psychiatry. 2015; 76(2):155-162.

US Burden of Disease Collaborators. The state of US health, 1990-2010: burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. JAMA, 310(6): 591-608, 2013.

Arias E, Heron M, Xu JQ. United States life tables, 2012. National vital statistics reports; vol 65 no 8. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Courtet, P. and Lopez-Castroman, J. (2017), Antidepressants and suicide risk in depression. World Psychiatry, 16: 317-318. doi:10.1002/wps.20460

Martin LA, Neighbors HW, Griffith DM. The Experience of Symptoms of Depression in Men vs Women Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(10):1100-1106. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.1985