PC TMS

What Is TMS?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an evidence-based, noninvasive procedure used to treat individuals experiencing treatmentresistant depression. TMS uses fluctuating magnetic fields to increase brain activity.

Does TMS Work?

PrairieCare’s clinical results have shown at least 2 out of 3 patients have their depressive symptoms decreased by at least 50%, and 40% of patients achieve remission from depression. These results are for patients with severe depression who have previously tried multiple antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.

Who Qualifies for TMS?

• Patients who have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD)

• Patients who are 18 years of age or older

• Patients who have tried and not seen an improvement in symptoms from multiple antidepressant medications from two different classes, medication augmentation trials, and a sufficient trial of psychotherapy

Who Does NOT Qualify for TMS?

• Patients who have any type of non-removable metal in their head or neck (braces and dental fillings are acceptable)

• Patients with a history of stroke or a neurodegenerative disorder

• Patients who have a history of seizures or a current seizure disorder

• Patients who have a history of mania or psychosis

• Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Comfortable seating during treatment

Placing the BrainsWay helmet

What to Expect During a TMS Treatment:

During the first TMS session, several measurements are made to ensure the TMS coil is properly positioned over the patient’s head. The coil is inside a helmet, securely strapped to the patient’s head. Once treatment begins, patients will hear a series of clicking sounds during the treatment and feel a tapping sensation under the treatment coil.

Each treatment session lasts about 20 minutes, and after the TMS technician removes the helmet, the patient can safely resume their daily activities. A typical course of TMS treatment consists of 36–37 treatments over 8–10 weeks, as recommended by your TMS doctor or as covered by your insurance.

How Long Does Remission Last?

Remission lengths and the need to revisit treatment may vary by patient. Among people who responded to TMS initially, 60% had a sustained response after 12 months1

Potential Risks and Side Effects of TMS

• TMS is well-tolerated and has few side effects. The most common side effects are headache and fatigue. These are mild and generally diminish throughout the treatment.

• The most serious risk of TMS is seizures. However, the risk of a seizure is exceedingly low, at less than 1%. At PrairieCare, we follow upto-date safety guidelines designed to minimize the risk of seizures2 .

• No long-term side effects associated with TMS have been observed.

BrainsWay Helmet and Machine

PrairieCare has chosen to use the Deep H1 BrainsWay Coil, which targets an area of the brain important in depression called the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This device is a repetitive TMS device but also has deep penetration (dTMS), which allows the device to reach more regions of the brain. The BrainsWay device also uses a more diffuse magnetic field, which makes the procedure more comfortable for many people.

How Do I Start TMS Treatment?

As part of PrairieCare’s full continuum of care, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a unique service offered at our Edina and Woodbury locations.

Call: 952-737-4510

Email: TMS_coordinator@prairie-care.com

“TMS saved my life!”

“Patient safety in particular stood out to me— excellent and always at the forefront.”

“I mean it when I say TMS is a lifesaver. Thank you to all the staff.”

“This TMS program is one of the only places I feel genuinely cared about from the heart, always! They are all really passionate about our feelings as the patient.”

Footnotes:

1. Dunner, D. L., Aaronson, S. T., Sackeim, H. A., Janicak, P. G., Carpenter, L. L., Boyadjis, T., Brock, D. G., Bonneh-Barkay, D., Cook, I. A., Lanocha, K., Solvason, H. B., & Demitrack, M. A. (2014). A multisite, naturalistic, observational study of transcranial magnetic stimulation for patients with pharmacoresistant major depressive disorder: durability of benefit over a 1-year follow-up period. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 75(12), 1394–1401.

2. Taylor, J. J., Newberger, N. G., Stern, A. P., Phillips, A., Feifel, D., Betensky, R. A., & Press, D. Z. (2021). Seizure risk with repetitive TMS: Survey results from over a half-million treatment sessions. Brain stimulation, 14(4), 965–973. Contact our TMS Care Coordinator to take the first step to healing at 952-737-4510 or TMS_coordinator@prairie-care.com