TMS Offers Relief from Depression
- Fifty percent of patients who receive TMS treatments experience a minimum of a 50% reduction in the symptoms accompanying depression.
- Thirty-three percent of patients who receive TMS treatments over a 6-week course of treatment enter full remission from their depression.
- Once a patient has tried two or more anti-depressant medications, the chances of another medication trial being effective are less than 12%.
- Over 100,000 TMS treatments have been safely administered.
- TMS is now available in over 350 outpatient practices nationwide.
TMS is Safe and Effective
Clinical trials have proven the efficacy and safety of NeuroStar TMS Therapy in treating patients who have had an inadequate response to antidepressant medications. NeuroStar TMS Therapy was studied in adult patients suffering from unipolar, non-psychotic Major Depressive Disorder. All of these patients had achieved little to no success with previous therapies. Over 10,000 active treatments were safely performed across all NeuroStar clinical trials. Treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy caused few side effects and was generally well tolerated by patients. Patients did not experience any severe reactions such as seizures, adverse cognitive effects, nor association with suicidal events. There were no systemic side effects such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, or sedation. The most common adverse reactions were headache and scalp discomfort during active treatment, and these symptoms frequently diminished or disappeared by the third week or treatment. Less than 5% of patients discontinued their treatments due to adverse effects. (1)
Outcomes from clinical trials
- TMS is an Effective Option for Treating Acute Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder.
- Patients treated with TMS Therapy (and no medications) experienced an average reduction in their depression symptoms of 22.1% compared to a 9% average reduction of depression symptoms in patients receiving inactive (sham) treatment. (2)
- At six weeks approximately 50% of patients had a 50% reduction in depression symptoms and 33% met criteria for remission. (3)
- TMS-treated patients also experienced significant improvement in anxiety, appetite changes, aches and pains, and lack of energy associated with depression. (4)
Results of TMS Therapy
Psychiatrists who administer TMS Therapy share their patients’ experiences in terms of outcomes and the lasting effects of TMS:
Patient Experiences with TMS Therapy
This video explains the results of the FDA clinical study in terms of TMS efficacy and safety. It also includes patient testimonials regarding their own experiences with TMS in treating their depression:
Safety of TMS Therapy
Learn more about the safety and side effects associated with TMS Therapy based on clinical trial results:
References: 1. Janicak P, et al. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in the Treatment of Major Depression: A Comprehensive Summary of Safety Experience from Acute Exposure, Extended Exposure and During Reintroduction Treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2008; Vol 69:222-232. 2. Lisanby S, et al. Daily Left Prefrontal Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: Clinical Predictors of Outcome in a Multisite, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology, advance online publication, 13 August 2009, doi:10.1.038/npp.2008.118. 3. Demitrack, MA , Thase, ME, Psychopharm Bull. 2009, (42(2): 5-38 4. Data on file with Neuronetics.