What Is Deep TMS? Everything You Need to Know

When it comes to mental health treatments, innovative approaches are transforming the way we address conditions like depression, anxiety, and OCD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one such breakthrough, offering hope to individuals who may not have found relief through traditional methods, such as medications and psychotherapy. With its non-invasive nature and high effectiveness, deep TMS is gaining attention as a powerful tool in modern mental healthcare. Let’s dive into what makes this therapy unique and how it’s changing lives!

What Is Deep TMS?

Table of Contents

Understanding Deep TMS

Conditions Treated With Deep TMS

Preparation for Deep TMS

Is There a Recovery Period?

Candidates for Deep TMS

Benefits of TMS Therapy

Cost of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The Bottom Line

Table Of Contents

Understanding Deep TMS

Conditions Treated With Deep TMS

Preparation for Deep TMS

Is There a Recovery Period?

Candidates for Deep TMS

Benefits of TMS Therapy

Cost of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The Bottom Line

Understanding Deep TMS

Deep TMS is a non-invasive, FDA-approved therapy that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific brain areas. It utilizes a specialized H-coil housed within a helmet to generate electromagnetic signals that reach deeper neural structures than traditional TMS. This procedure is entirely painless and provides significant improvements for most people.

Deep TMS sessions typically last about 20-40 minutes, during which the patient remains awake and alert while seated in a comfortable chair with the treatment helmet placed over their head. The magnetic pulses generated by the device pass through the skull and into targeted brain regions, where they influence neural activity and brain circuit functionality. This FDA-cleared technology was developed as an advancement over repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), targeting broader and deeper structures in a single session.

Conditions Treated With Deep TMS

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in daily activities. Individuals with MDD may experience changes in sleep patterns, appetite, energy levels, and concentration, as well as feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Deep TMS treatment has emerged as a promising option, particularly for patients who have not responded to traditional interventions, such as antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. By targeting specific areas of the brain associated with mood regulation, deep TMS can help alleviate symptoms of depression and improve the overall quality of life for those struggling with this condition.

A standard treatment protocol using a BrainsWay Deep TMS™ device includes the following:

Phase 1 (Acute): 20 sessions during weeks 1-4

Phase 2 (Continuation): 10-16 sessions during weeks 5-12

Each session lasts 20 minutes and is provided once a day, Monday to Friday.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels compelled to perform in response to these bothersome thoughts. OCD can significantly impact daily functioning and cause distress for those affected.

Deep TMS has been FDA-approved as an adjunct treatment for OCD. Insurance companies often cover it for patients who have not responded to conventional treatments, such as medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy. By targeting specific brain regions associated with OCD, deep TMS can help reduce the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions, allowing individuals to manage their symptoms and improve their overall well-being.

Here is a standard OCD treatment protocol with a BrainsWay Deep TMS™ device:

90-minute prep session where the TMS provider designs provocations (therapeutic technique) based on the patient’s symptoms
29 treatment sessions, each lasting 30-40 minutes
Every patient visit is divided into two parts: exposure to provocation and TMS treatment

Anxious Depression

This is a subtype of depression characterized by the presence of both depressive symptoms and significant anxiety. Individuals with this condition may experience excessive worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms, such as muscle tension and sleep disturbances. BrainsWay Deep TMS™ has been FDA-approved as a treatment for anxious depression. It can target brain regions associated with both mood regulation and anxiety. The standard treatment protocol is the same as for MDD.

Smoking Addiction

Smoking addiction is a chronic condition characterized by the compulsive use of tobacco products despite the known health risks. Nicotine, the primary addictive substance, activates reward pathways in the brain, making it difficult for individuals to quit this harmful habit. Deep TMS has been FDA-approved as a treatment option for smoking addiction, as it can target brain regions associated with reward processing and craving. By modulating the activity of these areas, deep TMS may help reduce cravings for nicotine and improve the chances of successful cessation. This non-invasive treatment offers hope for individuals seeking to overcome their smoking addiction and improve their overall health.

BrainsWay’s Deep TMS™ therapy for this condition includes the following:

Five sessions a week during weeks 1-3
One session a week during weeks 3-6
Each treatment takes 25-30 minutes and includes three elements: provocation, TMS therapy, and brief counseling.

Preparation for Deep TMS

Diagnosis: Before beginning deep TMS treatment, a consultation is scheduled to determine if an individual is a good candidate. A TMS practitioner reviews the patient’s medical history and evaluates whether they meet diagnostic criteria for their condition and have no contraindications, like magnetic-sensitive metal implants in or near the head or a history of seizures.

Brain Mapping: If approved for TMS, the patient undergoes a mapping session, during which the motor threshold is determined to adjust the magnetic field intensity to the individual. The patient’s right thumb is monitored for neuron stimulation. The TMS coil is systematically positioned over motor cortex areas to deliver pulses and observe muscle activity. The stimulation intensity starts low and gradually increases until the TMS provider reaches the motor threshold — the minimum intensity to produce a visible muscle twitch in the patient’s right-hand thumb.

The treatment itself is non-invasive and does not require anesthesia or sedation. Patients are advised to avoid caffeine before sessions. There is no need for significant preparations — the sessions can be conducted during lunch breaks, and people may resume their activities immediately after the procedure.

Is There a Recovery Period?

One of the major benefits of deep TMS is that no recovery period is required. Unlike electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), TMS does not involve anesthesia or cause memory loss, confusion, or disorientation after treatment. Patients remain awake and alert during the sessions. Most people feel no side effects, though some may experience a mild headache, some muscle twitching, or lightheadedness that quickly resolves. The lack of a recovery period makes deep TMS a convenient form of brain stimulation. Patients can easily fit the short daily sessions into their regular schedules without significant disruption. This improves compliance and allows individuals to incorporate the therapy into their work and family routines. Therefore, deep TMS is an appealing, FDA-approved treatment for many individuals seeking innovative solutions for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, and more.

Candidates for Deep TMS

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Patients with MDD who have not responded adequately to at least two antidepressant medications are considered to have treatment-resistant depression. Deep TMS may be an option for such individuals who continue to experience depressive symptoms despite taking SSRIs or other drugs.

Failed to Respond to Psychotherapy

Many patients with MDD or OCD have undergone several courses of cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy without significant improvements. Deep TMS can be highly effective in treating depression and other mental health issues in such people.

Seeking Non-Pharmacological Treatment

Some patients suffering from MDD, OCD, or smoking addiction wish to avoid or reduce medications due to personal preferences. Deep TMS may provide a non-pharmacological therapeutic option for these individuals.

Unable to Tolerate Side Effects

Patients who have experienced adverse reactions from antidepressant medications that have outweighed the benefits or made continued treatment impossible would potentially be candidates for deep TMS. This innovative therapy has a mild side effect profile.

People With Anxious Depression

Patients with anxious depression experience MDD symptoms with high levels of anxiety. BrainsWay’s Deep TMS system has been FDA-approved for treating this disorder. It has helped numerous individuals restore their mental wellness.

Benefits of TMS Therapy

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation

Deep TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain without surgery or device implantation. Treatment is administered via a helmet-like device placed over the head, making deep TMS a safe and convenient therapy. It is much less invasive than deep brain stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation.

Precisely Targeted

Deep TMS allows clinicians to directly target specific areas of the brain that are implicated in psychiatric disorders. The magnetic fields can reach deep neural structures and precisely stimulate the regions that require modulation to achieve therapeutic benefit.

Minimal Side Effects

Unlike psychiatric medications, deep TMS has minimal side effects. Patients may feel headaches and scalp discomfort during treatment sessions, which resolve quickly. Deep TMS does not require anesthesia or sedation.

Rapid and Sustained Results

Many individuals experience improvements soon after starting deep TMS treatment. Results often last 6-12 months, and patients can maintain their progress by undergoing additional treatment sessions.

No Systemic Exposure

Because deep TMS directly targets specific brain structures, it does not cause systemic exposure throughout the body. This focused approach may avoid many unwanted effects of medications that circulate more widely. The localized nature of exposure is a crucial advantage of deep TMS.

Cost of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Deep TMS costs range from $100 to $300 per session. The price may vary depending on geographic location, individual provider fees, and health insurance, which can cover 30-100% of all expenses. Mindset TMS is one of the best providers of TMS therapy in Greeley. We provide customized price quotes during the initial consultation with Dr. Peralta and her team.

The Bottom Line

Deep TMS offers a promising, non-invasive treatment option for individuals struggling with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, and smoking addiction. By using targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain areas, this procedure can provide significant relief, especially for those who have not responded to medications and psychotherapy. With minimal side effects and no recovery period required, deep TMS presents a convenient and effective alternative, improving the quality of life for many patients. If you’re seeking a solution beyond medications or therapy, deep TMS could be a game changer in your mental health journey!