Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses specific magnetic pulses to treat depression at its source, within the brain’s inactive nerve cells. At Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling in Bentonville, Arkansas, the an experienced team of TMS experts in the Northwest Arkansas region uses the industry’s top-rated TMS system, NeuroStar®, to help patients with depression find rapid relief. Call the office or click online scheduling to learn more about this noninvasive, drug-free treatment.
Request an AppointmentWhat is TMS?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is a unique method of treating chronic depression. In this type of therapy, a magnet, about the same power as the ones in MRI machines, emits pulses that stimulate certain nerve cells in the brain.
Experts believe that this specific area of the brain is underactive in people struggling with depression, so the TMS “wakes up” that sleepy area and helps improve neurotransmitter (brain chemical) levels. Ultimately, the improved neurotransmitter levels can relieve depression.
Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling is proud to have the state-of-the-art NeuroStar TMS system in its office. The team includes licensed NeuroStar specialists who are experts in administering this unique therapy.
About 83% of patients who complete NeuroStar TMS experience significant depression relief, and 62% have full depression remission. So far, it’s helped more than 3 million people to find relief from their debilitating depression symptoms.
Who is TMS for?
TMS is for people who struggle with depression that doesn’t improve with medications such as antidepressants. NeuroStar is also FDA cleared to treat depression along with anxiety (anxious depression) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What can I expect during TMS?
You’ll sit in a cushy chair, and the team positions a padded curved coil on one side of your head. You’ll hear clicking noises and feel light tapping against your head. The process is not painful.
During the treatment, the magnetic pulses are repeatedly delivered to the ideal location and depth within the brain.
Studies show that this specific pattern of pulses promotes the brain’s ability to repair itself, adapt, and change, which means that TMS can have long-lasting results.
You’ll be awake for the whole TMS session, which lasts about 20 minutes. It doesn’t affect your memory or sleep, and you can resume your regular routine immediately after.
How often do I need TMS?
TMS works best when sessions occur close together over a short period, so you’ll have NeuroStar sessions three to five days a week over about six weeks.
TMS is proven safe and effective. There are virtually no side effects. NeuroStar has collected a large body of evidence supporting its use in patients struggling to find relief with other treatment methods. Call Northwest Psychiatry & Counseling or book an appointment online now to learn more.