The most common form of treatment for depression is medication therapy with various forms of antidepressants. This should not be the only answer to depression, however. There should be at least one complementary treatment so you don’t become dependent on antidepressant medication, which can be very dangerous. Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy are forms of counseling that can help you control the way you think and improve your outlook. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatment, also known as TMS therapy, is a new and innovative form of brain stimulation therapy that is helping many people with depression.
How TMS Affects the Brain
Antidepressant medications work by chemically stimulating different sections of the brain in order to change the emotional and mental state of the individual. The brain can also be stimulated in an electrical way through the use of magnetic fields. The magnetic pulses are sent into the brain directly through the cranium with TMS therapy. Repetitive magnetic pulses stimulate the brain, changing brain chemistry and reducing symptoms of depression over time.
The machines used for this kind of brain stimulation are equipped with magnetic coils that create the magnetic energy fields. There are two types of coils that are used for TMS treatments; therefore, there are generally two forms of TMS therapy: Surface TMS and Deep TMS. Surface TMS is the most prominent form of this therapy. This is the first form of TMS, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008.
Deep TMS is conducted with another device. This TMS device uses an H-coil that is much larger and can penetrate deeper. This was approved by the FDA in 2013, and is the younger of the two TMS options available. However, both kinds of machines have been equally as effective at relieving symptoms of depression.
What to Expect with the Treatment
After a consultation with you, we will decide which parts of your brain are in need of the most magnetic stimulation and at what dose. The first treatment will probably be the longest. It may take multiple weeks of treatment before you really begin to notice results. During the course of the treatment, we might raise or lower the magnetic dose based on how you are responding to treatment. After each treatment, you can go about your daily life just like normal.
Reach out to us at Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center and let us help you decide if TMS therapy can benefit you. Contact us today to book your appointment at our office in Billings.
TMS
by Deb (age 64)
Category: generalThe hoops I jumped through in order to be evaluated were straightforward and efficient. I met with PA Kaitlin for about an hour to discuss my history and previous medications. Then Dr. Amato joined us to further discuss my history, the TMS treatment, and answer any questions. Myrna gathered all of the information and submitted it to my health insurance company to request coverage for TMS. Fortunately, insurance approved the treatment and I was able to begin the next week. I’m sure most people have anxiety about starting a treatment like TMS. No matter how many times it’s described to you, there are many unknowns. How will I feel during treatment? Is it painful? What if this doesn’t work? What if it works for a while but then stops? In all honesty, I was very uncomfortable during the first couple of weeks of treatment. The alternating two seconds of tapping sensation caused some pain during treatment, and at the end of the first week I thought about quitting. But I had sworn to myself that TMS was a last resort and I HAD TO complete the treatment and give it a chance to work. My technician, Heather, told me that some people don’t feel the tapping at all, they only hear it. Guess I wasn’t one of those people! But as the days went by, it became easier to tolerate the treatments. During this time I also saw Lauren weekly for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). This is highly recommended for people undergoing TMS treatment, and it was a positive complement to my total of 100 minutes each week “under the helmet”. The weekend between weeks three and four, I started to notice subtle improvements in my mood, increased belief in my self-worth, and enthusiasm for simple things like going for walks, meeting friends for lunch, and taking on volunteer work in the community. I hesitated at first to believe that TMS was helping me. I was afraid that I was convincing myself it was working because I so desperately wanted it to! But now that I am past the treatment I can say with cert
TMS
by Barbie (age 68)
Category: generalI feel so blessed to participate in the TMS protocol at MT Psychiatry. After struggling so many years with depression and not getting significant results from medication, particularly of late, I noticed positive results in the first two weeks of treatment. TMS can literally give you back the beauty & joy in living as well as the courage to make positive life changes and improvements in your daily living situation. I heartily encourage anyone to put yourself into the hands of the amazing TMS team who so gently and graciously make this journey with you out of the black hole that is depression. It is my honor and privilege to give the TMS treatment the highest recommendation.
TMS
by Shayne (age 66)
Category: generalI am grateful for the support and caring I have received from Dr. Amato (and Heidi, Heather and Myrna) in my quest for mental health and a fuller more productive life. While the TMS results have been subtle, I feel more positive about my future and I would recommend this team absolutely. Thank you!
TMS
by Carrie (age 65)
Category: generalNot realizing how fuzzy my head was, I thought I was only going through severe anxiety and depression. Through the insight of Pat, I was able to go through TMS treatments which brought down the anxiety and depression immensely and has cleared up the fuzzy, far off substantially. All the personnel treated me with kindness and I’m sure their attitudes helped in my recovery.
TMS
by Bridget (age 47)
Category: generalThe first outcome of TMS I noted happened early in my treatment, at about the beginning of week two. I felt as though my “brain fog” had been chipped away. I wish I could report that I feel my mental health issues are in “remission”, but I can’t do so yet. My hope is that I will see improvement in the weeks to come, now that my TMS cycle has ended. I can say that my brain feels – in some way – different; I can’t explain exactly how. I continue to struggle at this point in time but sill have hope for more improvement.
Powered by Crystal Clear Digital Marketing Reviews


