Targeted depression relief, without the side-effects.

Deep - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

  • TMS is a non-invasive, alternative form of brain stimulation which uses a series of inductive currents to target and activate areas of the brain that deal with depression and mood control.

  • TMS has little to no side effects when compared to traditional oral antidepressants. Treatments are safe, short and painless.

How does it work?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA approved treatment for depression, OCD and smoking addiction. By activating understimulated areas of the brain — correlated with mood control and depression — neurological pathways can be restored providing relief from these disorders. The treatments are about 20 minutes in length, painless and will not interfere with your daily life.

TMS is backed by randomized controlled trials. Some trials have shown a 50-75% response rate (1) in TMS reducing depressive symptoms and 33-50% experiencing remission (2).

This is a significantly higher response rate than seen by patients treated with traditional oral antidepressants (3).

TMS trials demonstrated an improvement in roughly 33% of participants with OCD, resulting in a significant response to treatment (4).

Evidence Based Research

FDA approved for:

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Smoking Addiction

What to Expect

  • Initial intake and future monitoring is provided by Dr. Lisa Fraleigh.

  • Mapping and treatment performed by M.A. Stephen Boxx.

  • Sessions last just 20-45 minutes.

  • TMS treatments are non-invasive, painless and have low risk of side-effects.

  • Read, relax or use your phone during treatment.

FAQs

  • Yes. There are no medications that interact negatively with TMS therapy. Your provider will discuss the best treatment plan with you and monitor your progress throughout treatment.

  • TMS is considered a painless treatment option with no long-term side effects. During treatment, you can hear the humming and clicking of the BrainsWay machine and you might feel a tapping sensation on your head. Some patients report mild discomfort at the treatment area, but this is usually temporary and only occurs during the initial days of treatment.

  • TMS treatment times vary for each patient according to their specific needs but will traditionally be 20-45 minutes, five days a week for four to six weeks.

  • TMS coverage depends on the treatment type, duration and insurance plan. TMS is covered by most insurance companies to treat Major Depressive Disorder for patients who have tried multiple antidepressants without success.

    Please contact our TMS specialist at NuMe to inquire about your specific policy.

TMS Explained by Professor Abraham Zangen

  • There are two types of TMS: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). Both dTMS and rTMS are more specific ways of referring to same TMS therapy treatment option. However, they differentiate the technology used to deliver TMS therapy and the depth magnetic pulses activate in the brain. At Coral Mountain Behavioral Health, we provide dTMS developed by BrainsWay as it delivers stimulation in the deeper structures of the brain.

  • In rTMS, the machine helmet contains a figure-eight shaped magnetic coil that sends out electromagnetic pulses about 1.5cm into the brain to stimulate neurons that, in turn, stimulate activation of neurons in the deep brain. Although rTMS is a safe and effective treatment option, the narrow activation depth limits the treatments ability to stimulate deeper neural structures directly.

    In dTMS, the machine helmet improves on the figure-eight coil design with a patented H-coil that sends out electromagnetic pulses about 4cm into the brain to activate deep brain neurons directly. dTMS received FDA approval in 2013 for treating depression, in 2018 for treating OCD, and in 2020 for the treatment of smoking addiction. dTMS is the first and only non-invasive device FDA approved for the treatment of OCD and is the first TMS device to FDA approved for the treatment of addiction.

    While the magnetic coils and technologies used are slightly different, both have shown to be highly effective in treating major depression (1).

  • At Coral Mountain Behavioral health, we utilize Dr. Lisa Fraleigh’s decades of clinical psychiatric experience to ensure you have the best evidence-based treatment plan that is unique to you.

    TMS is typically considered for those who have treatment resistant depression or OCD. It is also the best alternative for those who struggle to manage the side effects of prescription medications. TMS can easily be integrated into your daily schedule, is well-tolerated without adverse or long lasting side effects.

    • You have tried multiple prescription medications for depression or OCD and haven’t tolerated side effects or seen improvement in symptoms

    • You need to drive yourself to and from treatment sessions (you must have another person to drive you to and from ketamine therapies)

    • You need a shorter treatment session (TMS is typically 20-45 minutes whereas ketamine therapies are a minimum of two hours)

    • Individuals with any type of ferromagnetic metal in their heads including aneurysm clips or coils, stents in the neck or brain, implanted electrodes, deep brain stimulators, and metal plates or metallic implants. Note: Braces, dental fillings, or titanium are OK

    If you are still unsure which mental health treatment is best for you, give us a call and make an appointment and our providers will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is unique to you.

    1. Wirecki T, Stephenson M, Rebecca Seale, et al. A comparison of rTMS and dTMS treatment outcomes for major depressive disorder in a real-world clinical practice setting. Brain Stim J. Sept-Oct 2015;8(5):e6.