Help for Depression

Why Consider TMS For Depression?

Results!

TMS data is based on patients treated at our center since 2011, with the average patient having failed 9 med trials. Medication data based on STAR-D data, National Institute of Health, 2010, with the average patient having failed 4 med trials. In the chart, Response follows the FDA definition and includes both those in remission and those whose depression is half better. The Remain Depression Free data is only for those patients who reach remission and does involve some form of continuing treatment in some but not all cases.

TMS Features:

No Medication.
No Medication Side Effects: no weight gain, sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, blurry vision.
Rapidly Effective: 6 weeks treatment, not months like medications.
You are awake, able to drive to and from treatment sessions.
We accept Medicare, TriCare, VA and most commercial insurance at in network rates.
Most common side effects are minor: mild headache, some sleepiness.
Risk of serious side effect of a seizure is 1 in 30,000 treatments.

What Makes Us Different at Southern Colorado TMS Center?

Our goal is to help you recover from depression, using TMS treatment integrated with changing your outlook and lifestyle to provide the most effective package available.
We provide life skills classes, acupuncture, video trainings and HeartMath as part of your care at no additional cost to you or your insurance plan.
Warm, supportive and confidential environment.
We have seven years’ experience with providing TMS and have treated hundreds of patients.
Latest machines and treatment protocols for effective and comfortable treatment.
Experience with pregnancy, epilepsy, degenerative brain illnesses and non-responders to ECT.
Practical experience adjusting protocols mid treatment if improvement is not being happening.
A highly trained and dedicated staff of 14 working together for your recovery.
Referrals to a broad panel of local therapists who have been trained to work with TMS patients and their specific issues as they go through recovery using this treatment.
Ability to work with your doctor and your therapist during TMS treatment so you can keep seeing those you trust.

What is TMS treatment like?

TMS treatment for Major Depressive Disorder involves a series of 17-minute sessions. During treatment you will be carefully attended and under the supervision of our TMS staff and Medical Director. During treatment, you can relax and speak with the TMS operator whenever necessary. Your family members or friends may be present if you wish. If you wish you may read, watch movies or listen to music. We often encourage you to watch information we have selected about how to recover from depression. You are fully awake and alert and receive no medication.

A typical course of TMS treatment for depression consists of five treatments per week over six weeks. When TMS is used for other diagnoses, only five to ten sessions may be required. After each treatment session you may drive yourself back to work or school and resume your normal daily activities.

Following successful treatment, maintenance sessions to reinforce your progress may be recommended for the next several months. Some patients have found that only a few or even no follow up treatments have been necessary. Many patients who benefit from TMS treatment are able to taper off many if not all of their medications once they have been helped by TMS.

The Science of TMS

During TMS therapy, an electromagnetic coil is placed on the head over the left prefrontal cortex (the area near where your forehead ends and hair starts), an area of the brain thought to be involved in mood regulation. chairphotoThe coil produces a pulsed magnetic field using the same magnetic energy as any MRI machine. This passes non-invasively into the head and stimulates the nerve cells in the area of the brain beneath the coil. The net effect is to help the area of the brain that has become sluggish to be more active and to stay more active over time.

In the late 1990’s, physicians began to explore the potential of TMS therapy for the treatment of a variety of diseases, with depression being the most thoroughly studied to date. More than 75 randomized, controlled trials of TMS therapy as a treatment for depression have been published by investigators around the world. In 2006, the largest randomized, controlled study ever conducted with TMS therapy was completed in patients with major depression, demonstrating its safety and efficacy for this use. The FDA cleared the treatment for use in the USA in 2008 and we have been conducting TMS treatment since 2011.

The Mag Vita TMS therapy system was cleared by the U.S. FDA. (2013) for the treatment of adult patients with major depressive disorder who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior medication antidepressant treatment.

How Much Does TMS Cost?

The amount that you will pay depends on your insurance, how much your insurance copay amount is, and how much of your annual deductible amount you owe or have already paid in the current year. Almost all commercial insurance companies cover TMS treatment for MDD but in most cases not yet for other diagnoses. Colorado Medicaid does not cover this treatment. We do accept Medicare, Tricare and VA insurance.

We will do our best to give you an accurate and complete estimate of your financial obligation and will give this to you before you start TMS treatment. We are glad to file for insurance prior authorization for you, so you will know as best as can be determined where you will stand financially.

We are able to offer a limited number of patients a reduced payment plan. Please discuss this matter with us.