How Many TMS Treatments Are Needed?

What Is TMS? 

TMS is a non-invasive treatment in which magnetic pulses are used to activate specific brain regions that are involved in regulating moods. If you've been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and haven't had much success with talk therapy or medication, TMS therapy is a safe and effective treatment option you should consider.

How Many TMS Treatments Are Needed? 

During a typical course, you'll receive around 36 treatments over a nine week period. You'll undergo five treatment sessions per week for the first six weeks, and then taper down the remaining six sessions over the following three weeks. However, your provider may recommend a shorter or longer course of TMS depending up your unique clinical circumstances. How long does TMS treatment last? Each individual TMS treatment session is fairly brief. Your first session may last a little longer while a Greenbrook TMS psychiatrist determines how to best deliver your treatments. Each subsequent session typically only takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, though your doctor may prescribe a slightly different sequence depending on your clinical presentation. Some people are able to fit it in during their lunch break, or receive treatments on their way to or from work or school. Every patient is different, and there might be some variation to these timelines depending on your individual needs. You may start to feel better and notice changes before your course of treatment is over, but it's essential you complete it to get the full benefits of TMS.

Are Additional TMS Treatments Needed? 

After the initial round of treatment, your Greenbrook physician may recommend additional sessions. This is because depression treatments don't work the same way for everyone, and there's a chance depression symptoms could come back after the first set of treatments. So, although many people won't need follow-up maintenance sessions—one treatment a week after the initial round, for example—it's helpful to recognize that you might. (Note, however, that insurance many not cover maintenance sessions.) It's also possible that depression symptoms may return after a period of remission, requiring another full course of TMS therapy. There's no way to scientifically predict if or when this will happen. It's important to regularly check in with your mood and emotions after the initial treatment round. You could also ask your loved ones or your behavioral health providers to help keep an eye out. This way, if the depression does return, you can take steps to get treatment right away.

The good news is that unlike other depression treatments, TMS usually does not become less effective after the initial treatment course. If you achieved remission before with TMS, there's a high probability that you'll achieve it again. It's important to remember that you deserve to achieve relief.

The Bottom Line 

TMS therapy does require some investment of time, but if you're seeking to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life, TMS has been proven to be effective. TMS therapy holds a response rate of 62 percent, and it has very few side effects, the most common being scalp discomfort. Many people find this much easier to tolerate than common antidepressant side effects, which can include weight gain, poor sleep, low libido, and more. Further, when you compare TMS therapy to other treatments, it's quite convenient. It's non-invasive, and you can stay awake through it all. Plus, anesthetics or sedatives are not needed, so you can resume your daily activities right after a session.

At Greenbrook, your comfort is prioritized, and you will be closely monitoring by an experienced TMS technician throughout your treatment. Many patients ultimately find the entire treatment experience quite pleasant. You can learn more about TMS therapy from Greenbrook resources, including patient stories detailing the different positive experiences they've had. Whenever you feel ready to take the next step, you can set up a free consultation.