In some cases of depression, medications can help. But some individuals don’t respond as well or have a hard time dealing with the side effects. Some people just don’t like having to take them. At BrainStim Centers, we offer an entirely different approach to treating depression. It’s non-invasive, drug-free, and lasting. There is hope.
While depression is often initially treated with antidepressants, psychotherapy, or a combination of both, these treatments may not be effective for everyone. This is often referred to as Treatment-Resistant Depression or TRD. Additionally, these medications may come with side effects that are not well tolerated.
We have another option for treatment. The team at BrainStim Centers uses highly individualized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to treat patients who may have tried these methods. By doing this, we offer something that works in a significant number of cases — without drugs, without side effects and without invasive procedures.
Depression, also called Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression, can have a variety of symptoms and degrees of severity. These can include:
Choose a treatment schedule that works best for your needs.
Popular
Schedule
1x daily, Monday- Friday
Duration
36 Sessions
30-minute sessions, 1x a day, M-F for 6 weeks, followed by 3 weeks tapering.
Covered by Insurance for Major Depressive Disorder
Popular
Schedule
10x daily, Monday- Friday
Duration
5 Days
10-15 minute sessions, 10x a day, M-F for 1 week, totaling 50 treatments. We see up to 90% remission rates. For detailed information regarding our accelerated treatment for depression, click here
Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t cover the cost. Contact us for pricing.
Understand how a neuro surgeon outperforms 99% of other TMS centers by hyper-personalizing treatments.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Anti-Depressant Medication
Targets the root cause of depression by stimulating specific brain areas, with an 80-90% effectiveness rate.
Manages symptoms but may not address the root cause. Medications start at around 50% effectiveness for the first drug and drop to as low as 10% with additional medications.
Minimal (e.g., scalp discomfort, mild headache).
Common (e.g., weight gain, fatigue, nausea, sleep issues, mood disorders, sexual disfunction, poor concentration )
Tailored to individual brain frequencies using advanced imaging, including qEEG and brain MRI.
Standardized dosage, often not customized to individual needs.
Non-addictive and doesn’t create dependency.
Potential risk of long-term dependency.
Sustainable relief even after the treatment ends.
Often requires continued use for sustained relief. For some, medications will just stop working once the body gets used to them.
Non-invasive, in-clinic sessions lasting 20-30 minutes each, typically for 6-9 weeks with lasting results.
Requires daily intake and ongoing monitoring for side effects, often for the rest of a patient’s life.
Covered by most insurance plans for specific conditions.
May also be covered, depending on the medication and plan.
Discover how others have found hope and transformed their lives through our treatment program
Listen to Kat’s tragic story about decades of depression and her last hope of living life until she found BrainStim.
TMS treatment for cognitive dcline can unlock memories that have been long lost. Listen to Gerard’s story.
Jonathan came to us after serving on the front line in the military. The trauma he endured was inescapable until he found BrainStim.
John’s family was so grateful to BrainStim for giving them back the person that was long lost. Listen to his story.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) can often turn one’s life upside down. We often see Depression, Anxiety and PTSD follow after injury.
Insurance will often cover the cost of TMS treatments with minimal to no cost to you so long as you meet the criteria set by your insurance company. Contact us to learn more about how we can get you approved.
We collect patient’s drivers license and insurance cards to run benefits and eligibility to determine what the patient’s financial responsibility would be. Most often its a small copay. At this point, the patient can decide whether they wish to proceed or not. There is no cost to check eligibility and benefits.
We collect patient’s drivers license and insurance cards to run benefits and eligibility to determine what the patient’s financial responsibility would be. Most often its a small copay. At this point, the patient can decide whether they wish to proceed or not. There is no cost to check eligibility and benefits.
TMS can help with depression by stimulating areas of the brain responsible for mood and emotional regulation, which can alleviate many depressive symptoms. 80-90% of our patients experience improvement, with many achieving complete remission.
For most insurance companies, they require an individual to have tried and failed at least 2 different anti-depressants from 2 different classes of drugs. Our psychiatric provider can work with you to help navigate you through the necessary insurance requirements.
TMS is considered safe. It has been studied extensively and approved by the FDA for nearly 20 years. Our team does a thorough intake to ensure your safety throughout the process.
TMS works by using magnetic impulses to either inhibit overactive areas of the brain or excite underactive areas of the brain. The energy that is emitted stimulates neurons in the brain and can aid in relieving symptoms related to mood, energy, and cognitive function.
Some patients report a return of symptoms after treatment. The good news is that most patients who require boosters are back to feeling great again after just a few “touch-up” sessions. For long term outcomes, it's important to combine TMS treatments alongside psychotherapy ('talk therapy').
Yes, our providers generally recommend continuing any medications you are currently taking while undergoing TMS. Many of our patients take antidepressants during treatment.
We always recommend working with a medical provider—whether ours or the provider who manages your medication—when tapering or discontinuing medications after TMS. Many of our patients have been able to lower or discontinue their medications after completing treatment.
Many patients experience no side effects while undergoing TMS. Some patients report having a headache the first few days, which can go away with over-the-counter NSAIDs.
Sessions are relatively quick, with many lasting between 10 up to 30 minutes, including set-up and stimulation. Staff will place a tracker on your face, and a coil on your head. You will feel mild to moderate taps on your head that have been described as a "woodpecker" sensation. Our staff aims to be punctual and efficient with your treatment as we know many of our patients can have busy lives.
Every patient is different. Some feel better right away, and some feel better after a few weeks. Your provider/technician will talk more with you about all of the normal reactions.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock therapy, is a psychiatric treatment that involves inducing a brief seizure in a patient under anesthesia to manage severe mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder. In addition to requiring anesthesia, ECT can cause memory loss and can have intense side effects.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) does not require anesthesia and has no long term side effects. It is safe for all ages.
BrainStim Centers does not recommend or endorse medications as a way to 'fix' the brain.
Insurance will cover the cost of treatment for treatment resistant depression as long as you meet the necessary criteria. Each insurance company has different acceptance criteria, so please contact our offices so that we can run eligibility and benefits to tell you exactly what your financial obligation would be assuming you qualify for treatment. In the event you would not qualify for insurance, we can help you with either a payment plan or work with a third party called CareCredit with offers interest free payment plans.
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