How
TMS Works
Depression treatment without medication
To help you determine if you’re a good candidate for TMS treatment, take our depression self-assessment, also called the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
But what if you could feel a change in just six weeks? That’s the power of TMS.
– Todd, Active Path Mental Health Patient
What is TMS?
TMS is a noninvasive, FDA-cleared treatment for patients whose symptoms have not improved with at least two antidepressant prescription treatments or have not achieved the desired results. TMS for major depressive disorder is covered by most insurance plans. Read more here.
How Does TMS Work?
What are the Side Effects of TMS?
The most common side effects include:
- Mild discomfort at or near the treatment site
- Mild headache
- Contracting or tingling of scalp, jaw or facial muscles
TMS technicians monitor each patient’s side effects and report these issues to the treating provider. Often these can be mitigated by reducing stimulation or taking over-the-counter medications prior to the procedure. Clinical studies of TMS have shown minimal side effects and no adverse effects on cognition or sleep.
In comparison, antidepressants are associated with a wide range of side effects, including blurred vision, dry mouth, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, headache or migraine, insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction and weight gain.
How Effective is TMS?
Types of TMS Therapy: Deep TMS Versus RTMS
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is Not TMS
Find out if you or a loved one are a good candidate for TMS
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of depression and would like to learn more, try taking the Active Path Online PHQ-9 Test.