Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS Therapy in Colorado Springs
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy has revolutionized treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues. TMS is a particularly exciting option for patients who have not found satisfactory relief through traditional methods, such as psychotherapy or antidepressants.
TMS uses a radically different treatment approach that directly targets specific areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. Because its treatment methodology is unique, TMS can achieve successful results when other treatments have not. TMS is FDA-approved with numerous peer-reviewed medical studies demonstrating successful results.
We are proud to be the premier destination for TMS treatment in Colorado Springs and Monument. Our patient results are nothing short of remarkable, and we’d love to help you achieve the same relief!
We use TMS devices from both Brainsway and MagVenture in our clinics. The TMS machine used for treatment is chosen based on each patient’s individual characteristics.
What is TMS?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an interventional psychiatry therapy that directly targets the brain during treatment for mental health disorders. TMS was first approved for depression treatment by the FDA in 2008. A technician uses a special TMS device to deliver magnetic impulses to targeted areas of the brain. An electromagnetic coil is placed against the patient’s scalp during treatment. This coil generates brief, repetitive magnetic pulses that pass through the skull and into the brain. TMS does not deliver electrical currents into the brain.
The magnetic pulses target the brain’s prefrontal cortex, an area involved in regulating mood and emotional responses. These pulses stimulate nerve cells in this region, helping to normalize brain activity that may be disrupted due to conditions such as depression and anxiety.
By repeatedly stimulating the targeted brain area, TMS promotes a state of neuroplasticity, a state wherein the brain adapts and transforms itself by forming new neural connections. These new connections are then able to better regulate mood and emotions, overcoming previous roadblocks from depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Conditions Treated with TMS at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions
- Depression – TMS is an effective treatment for depression, treatment-resistant depression, postpartum depression, and other forms of depression. It is FDA-approved for ages 15 and up, including for late-life depression. Learn More
- Anxiety – Anxiety and depression are commonly co-occurring. An estimated 60 percent of patients with anxiety also have depression, and vice versa. TMS is FDA-approved to treat anxious depression, and is effective at treating both anxiety and depression. Learn More
- OCD – TMS is FDA-approved for treatment of OCD. It has proven highly successful at reducing or eliminating the obsessions and compulsions characteristic of the disorder. Learn More
- PTSD – For military personnel, first responders, and anyone who has witnessed a traumatic event, TMS provides significant relief from PTSD as it has direct neural pathways to the brain region where depression is treated. TMS is covered by TRICARE and TriWest (VA) when depression is diagnosed in conjunction with PTSD. Learn More
- Smoking cessation – TMS treatment for smoking cessation obtained FDA approval in 2020. Because TMS targets the reward and impulse control centers of the brain, it can greatly assist in recovery from use of addictive substances, including tobacco and nicotine.
- Chronic pain – TMS helps alleviate chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia, migraines, CRPS, and other sources of pain.
“Accelerated” TMS is available at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions!
The SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) protocol was FDA approved in 2022. Preliminary results from studies have been promising, with one study reporting a 90% remission rate after the five-day treatment and another reporting a 79% response rate.
The SAINT TMS protocol delivers multiple sessions of TMS during each day of treatment. This shortens the total treatment time from a period of weeks to several days.
This is a great option for individuals who require a rapid antidepressant effect or who prefer a condensed schedule due to a demanding work schedule or other conflicts.
To learn more about accelerated TMS in Colorado Springs or Monument, call us at 719-622-6522.
Is TMS Right for You?
TMS may be the best treatment option for you if you have one of the conditions listed above and have tried other treatment methods without success. Medical insurance plans do cover TMS treatment, subject to each plan’s guidelines for coverage. Typically, insurance will cover TMS if a patient has attempted antidepressant medication and psychotherapy without satisfactory results.
If paying out-of-pocket for TMS, the insurance company guidelines do not apply. In that case, an appointment with one of our providers is all that is needed. You can be evaluated and receive a treatment prescription for TMS at your visit.
TMS can also be a good option for patients who wish to avoid pharmaceutical options. If you want to reduce or eliminate use of antidepressants, TMS is an excellent option as it does not rely on use of medications to deliver its benefit.
Treatment does require a daily TMS session for several weeks. The appointments are outpatient procedures, do not require any preparation, and you are free to resume normal tasks immediately after (driving, returning to work, etc). With three convenient locations in Colorado Springs and Monument, Colorado Psychiatry Solutions is an excellent facility to receive TMS therapy, as we can assist you at a location close to home or office.
Is TMS FDA approved?
Yes, TMS is an FDA-approved treatment for several mental health disorders. Adult Depression, adolescent depression, anxious depression, late-life depression, OCD, and smoking cessation have all received FDA approval in the U.S. Other conditions may be treated with TMS as an off-label treatment or treated in conjunction with an approved condition.
TMS research is an active area of research with multiple peer-reviewed studies published each year affirming TMS’s powerful healing ability. Studies are underway now to confirm TMS’s ability to treat additional mental health conditions as a prerequisite to receive FDA clearance. We anticipate many additional conditions will receive FDA approval for treatment in coming years.
Off-Label TMS Treatments
TMS is an effective treatment for a number of conditions which have not yet received FDA approval. TMS treatment for these conditions may be available as an off-label treatment. Many conditions that affect the brain, the body’s reward systems, memory and cognitive behavior can be alleviated or improved through TMS. These conditions include:
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- ADHD
- Addiction/substance use disorder
- Alcohol use disorder
- Dementia
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraine
- Schizophrenia
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If you have questions about whether TMS is appropriate for you, we encourage you to contact us at 719-622-6522.
