Transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS is a new treatment that applies rapid magnetic pulses to the brain. The stimulation produces electrical current in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The FDA has approved TMS (NeuroStar) for the treatment of major depression in those who have not responded to oral antidepressants.

TMS Features:

• Treatments are delivered in the office setting while you sit in a special chair.
• Treatments last for about 40 minutes and are done daily for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Patients are awake through the process and there is no need for anesthesia.
• Clinical studies of TMS show that it is effective in roughly 1 out of 4 who receive treatment.
• Side effects are mild and include:
• Scalp irritation
• Mild headaches