NeuroStar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment for a variety of conditions.
If you would like more information about conditions treated by Fort Wayne NeuroStar TMS therapy, we encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation. We can answer your questions about treatment, insurance coverage, and conditions that are known to respond well to NeuroStar TMS.
NeuroStar TMS was first cleared by the FDA in 2008 for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It is a non-invasive targeted treatment that uses electromagnetic stimulation to target neurological cells in the brain that are responsible for mood disorders.
The electromagnetic pulses produce mild electric currents that activate targeted neural cells. Typically, the prefrontal cortex is targeted for MDD treatment as it is responsible for mood regulation.
This increased activity is associated with a reduction in clinical signs and symptoms of depression. Greater activation of these nerve cells is also associated with an increase in the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain used for communication between cells.
The FDA has cleared NeuroStar TMS therapy in Fort Wayne for the treatment of major depressive disorder, comorbid anxiety related to depression, and as an adjunct therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recently, the FDA also cleared NeuroStar TMS as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adolescents aged 15 to 21.
A clinical trial demonstrates that 83 percent of people who completed their treatment cycle experienced a reduction in depression symptoms, and 62 percent experienced complete remission.
Your first appointment for your NeuroStar TMS treatment will be the longest. During your first visit to our office in Fort Wayne, we define the motor threshold or the amount of electromagnetic stimulation that should be used to accommodate your anatomy and physiology. This determination helps us to map your brain so the following treatments are shorter.
During subsequent treatments, you will be seated in a comfortable chair that looks like the one at your dentist’s office. A coil will be placed on your scalp in the area of the brain that is to be targeted. A computer controls the amount of electromagnetic stimulation and the impulses being delivered.
Treatment sessions can take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. A full treatment cycle includes daily treatment, five days each week, for seven weeks. The length of your treatment is determined by your healthcare provider and may be adjusted during the cycle as we evaluate how you are responding. There are some minor and typically transient side effects that can occur.
For example, many people report experiencing a tapping sound on their head while the treatment is in progress. Some clients experience a headache, skin tingling, or skin discomfort. However, these symptoms usually resolve once the treatment is completed and usually do not occur after the first week.
Treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and comorbid anxiety related to depression are challenging and sometimes overwhelming mental health conditions. If you have not found relief using traditional medication and talk therapy, or you would like to explore non-pharmacological treatment options, TMS therapy may be a good choice for you.
We encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation. We will help you learn more about the conditions treated by Fort Wayne NeuroStar TMS therapy.
**Outcomes Registry data was published by Sackeim HA, et al. J Affective Disorders, 2020, 277(12):65-74. The outcomes reported represent the subset of study patients for which the CGI-S data was reported before and after an acute course of NeuroStar TMS. Patients were treated under real-world conditions where patients may have been prescribed concomitant depression treatments including medications. “Measurable relief” was defined as a CGI-S score <=3 and “complete remission” was defined as a CGI-S score <=2 at the end of treatment.
Adult Indications for Use
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Adolescent Indications for Use
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).
Important Safety Information
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).
Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.
