About NeuroStar® TMS Therapy

NeuroStar uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is FDA approved (for Major Depressive Disorder), to target key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression. It is not ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).

Depression is thought to be caused by an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that send signals between the brain cells.

What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?

During a Neurostar treatment session, a magnet similar in strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging machine is used to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These magnetic pulses may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.

Take the first step

to overcoming your depression today
Find out whether Neurostart TMS treatment is right for you!

Treatment with NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is easy:

  • Therapy sessions are conducted in our office
  • You can return to normal activities right away
  • You are awake during treatment
  • There are no negative effects on memory or sleep
  • It is covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare, Tricare, and MVP

Non-depressed

Depressed

A PET scan measures vital functions such as blood flow, oxygen use and blood sugar (glucose) metabolism.

Source: Mark George, M.D. Biological Psychiarty Branch Division of Intramural Research Programs, NIMH 1993

How NeuroStar®TMS
Therapy Works

Here’s what you can expect from a NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS) session:

How does Neurostar work for people with depression?

NeuroStar®TMS Patient Stories

NeuroStar Patient: Mariah’s Story

NeuroStar Patient: Bart’s Story

Frequently Asked Questions

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.

TMS involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain.

A typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes per day, up to 5 times a week over 7-8 weeks.

A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating de-
pression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans.

TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, sedation, etc. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort —generally mild to moderate—occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
No. TMS Therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for a therapeutic benefit. The intensity of the magnetic field is similar to that of an MRI. These techniques differ radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells is a key part of why TMS is so effective.

Clinical Trials and Academic Studies

1. Carpenter LL, et al. (2012). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Major Depression: a Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Acute Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Practice. Depression and Anxiety, 29(7):587-596.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22689344

2. George MS, et al. (2010). Daily Left Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67(5):507-516. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439832

3. Dunner DL, et al. (2014). A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Patients with Pharmacoresistant Major Depressive Disorder: Durability of Benefit Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period. J Clin Psychiatry. 75(12):1394-1401. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271871

4. O’Reardon JP, et al. (2007). Efficacy and safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: A Multisite Randomized Controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry, 62(11):1208-1216. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17573044