About NeuroStar TMS Therapy

What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment for depression for adults (21 years and above) that is effective when other treatments have failed. The exact cause of depression is not known, the leading scientific theory is that it’s caused by an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells.

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During a NeuroStar TMS therapy session, a magnet similar in strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is used to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These magnetic pulses may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.

TMS Machine

What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?

• Therapy sessions are conducted in your NeuroStar doctor’s office

• You remain awake during treatment, and able to return to normal activities

• It’s covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare

NeuroStar TMS Therapy Benefits & Highlights

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Non Invasive

Non invasive and non systemic so side effects are only the possible minor irritation of scalp.

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19 - 37 minute

Each treatment typically lasts 19-37 minutes. Variations depends on you diagnosis.

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30-36 Treatments

A typical treatment course consists of 5 treatments per week over a 7 week period.

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After Treatment

You will be fully awake and alert. You can read or watch TV and return to work after with no restrictions.

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Covered by Insurance

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Non-drug

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Proven to work

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No side effects of drugs

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Long Lasting Relief

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FDA Cleared

How NeuroStar TMS Therapy Works

Here’s what you can expect from a NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS) session:

 

TMS

Before Treatment

You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair. A small, curved magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.

TMS

During Treatment

NeuroStar delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain. You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy: Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, each treatment takes between 19 and 37 minutes.

TMS

After Treatment

You can resume normal activities immediately.

Because there are no effects on alertness you can drive yourself to and from treatment sessions.

In-office treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy typically takes 19-37 minutes and is administered 5 days a week for approximately 7 weeks.*

TMS Clinical Trials & Academic Studies

  1. 1. Carpenter LL, et al. (2012). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Major Depression: A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Acute Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Practice. Depression and Anxiety, 29(7):587-596. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22689344

  2. 2. George MS, et al. (2010). Daily Left Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67(5):507-516. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439832

  3. 3. Dunner DL, et al. (2014). A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Patients with Pharmacoresistant Major Depressive Disorder: Durability of Benefit Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period. J Clin Psychiatry. 75(12):1394-1401. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25271871

  4. 4. O’Reardon JP, et al. (2007). Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial. Biol Psychiatry, 62(11):1208-1216. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17573044

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System?

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is a computerized electromechanical instrument that produces and delivers brief duration, rapidly alternating (pulsed) magnetic fields to induce electrical currents in localized regions of the cerebral cortex.

How is NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System used for treatment?

NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is available upon the prescription of a licensed physician. It can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings including physicians’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.

What is a NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System prescription?

“Prescription” means that the attending physician has determined that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is indicated for use in a particular patient. In addition to patient selection, the attending physician should oversee initial patient motor threshold determinations, treatment parameter definitions, and overall TMS treatment course planning for each patient.

What is NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System supervision?

“Supervision” means that the attending physician is medically responsible for coordination of the overall clinical care of a patient for whom NeuroStar TMS Therapy® has been considered clinically indicated and for the safe and effective use of the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System. If the attending physician is not performing the daily NeuroStar treatment sessions, then the attending physician should assign properly trained personnel who may perform the daily treatment sessions. The attending physician is medically responsible for the patient’s routine evaluation during the course of their TMS therapy treatment.

How is NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System offered?

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System is offered in the following configurations:

  • Single mobile console configuration: mobile console, treatment coil, head support system, treatment chair, and TMS TrakStar practice data management system
  • Multiple mobile consoles/TMS TrakStar system configurations to address the needs of facilities with large patient populations.
How does the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System work?

Since the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System produces a time varying magnetic field, its intended effect derives fundamentally from Faraday’s Law, which asserts that a time-varying magnetic field produces an electrical current in an adjacent conductive substance. During TMS, the conductive substance of interest is the brain, in particular the region of the cortex that lies beneath the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System treatment coil.

The electric current induced in this region of the cortex travels in a path orthogonal to the direction of the alternating magnetic field with the point of maximum field strength and greatest current located directly beneath the center of the coil, which is the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System component that rests against the patient’s head and transmits magnetic pulses to the patient’s brain. The induced current is tangential to the scalp at the cortical surface, and diminishes in magnitude with increasing depth.

In the targeted area of the motor cortex, where field strength achieves the stimulation threshold, it is postulated that neuronal depolarization occurs. This type of magnetic field is not intended to induce a seizure during therapeutic use. The peak magnetic field strength achieved with each pulse in the cortex is approximately 0.5 Tesla.

Although the mechanism of action is unknown, it is hypothesized that the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System causes neuronal depolarization and changes in brain functional activity that may be associated with various physiologic changes in the brain associated with symptomatic relief of depression in the indicated population.

Important Safety Information

The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of NeuroStar TMS (<0.1% per patient). NeuroStar TMS Therapy® should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar TMS Therapy® has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.

Will insurance cover my psychological services?

Some insurances will require prior authorizations. Prior to your appointment, we will check your benefits.

How will I know what services are right for me?

Upon your first appointment, a psychological evaluation will be conducted and an individualized treatment plan will be created.

How is NeuroStar TMS Therapy® System offered?

Everyone can benefit from therapy. It is a safe place to talk about issues, decrease negative thought patterns and learn how to navigate through stressful situations.

 

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The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode. The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy system is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if Neuro-Star Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary. Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.

Location

Arjun Reyes MD and Associates
893 Patriot Drive, Suite A
Moorpark, CA 93012
Phone: 805-214-1312
Fax: 805-531-1100

Office Hours

Get in touch

805-214-1312