Comprehensive & Compassionate

Behavioral Health Services

Spokane Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

An Innovative New Treatment for Chronic Depression

Therapy and counseling are critical for a patient to make long-term progress in recovery from chronic depression. However, some states of depression can be so severe that patients have a difficult time participating in their therapy without a little boost. While antidepressants are the typical solution to this problem, they are not always effective and some patients have an aversion to taking them. When this is the case, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy may be the solution.

TMS is a drug-free therapy that works by using magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of a patient’s brain. The technology is similar to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and is so effective that some patients experience full remission of their depressive symptoms.

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How Does TMS Work?

Patients undergo TMS at our offices in an outpatient treatment session that lasts approximately 20-40 minutes. They are awake throughout the session and are able to return to their regular activities directly afterward. Patients typically receive a series of TMS treatments over a period of several weeks or months.

What happens during TMS?

You will lie down in a reclining chair
A device containing an electromagnetic coil will be placed close to your head
Electromagnetic waves will be released from the device to stimulate brain areas that regulate mood
TMS does not require incisions, injections, or anesthesia, so you will be awake for the entire procedure
A typical session lasts between 20 minutes to an hour and should be repeated five days a week for 4 to 6 weeks

TMS is an extremely safe procedure and does not carry the negative side effects of many medications used to treat depression. Approximately half of all patients experience significant improvement in their symptoms. Unlike medication, TMS also provides enduring relief from depressive symptoms, even one year after receiving treatment.