Rapha Health LLC is a NeuroStar® provider. We offer NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy (TMS) at our Springfield, Massachusetts office.
Adult Indications for Use: 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).
Adolescent Indications for Use: NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).
Important Safety Information: NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary. 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 TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient). Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.
About NeuroStar TMS Therapy
NeuroStar uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reach the areas of the brain that are underactive in people living with depression. It is not electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
The exact cause of depression is still not known. The leading scientific theory is that it involves an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that carry signals between brain cells.
What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?
During a NeuroStar session, a magnet similar in strength to the one used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine stimulates nerve cells in the part 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.
What treatment with NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is like
- Sessions take place in our office
- You can return to your normal activities right away
- You are awake during treatment
- There are no negative effects on memory or sleep
- It is covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare
In a real-world study, 83% of adult patients with major depressive disorder who completed NeuroStar treatment had measurable symptom improvement, and 62% reached full remission.1 Patients’ results may vary.
1 Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affective Disorders, 277(12):65-74.
How NeuroStar TMS Therapy Works
Here is what to expect from a NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS) session at Rapha Health.
Before Treatment
You will recline comfortably in the treatment chair. A small, curved magnetic coil is positioned lightly on your head.
During Treatment
NeuroStar delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain. You will hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.
After Treatment
You can resume normal activities immediately. Because there are no effects on alertness or memory, you can drive yourself to and from your sessions.
In-office treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy typically takes 19 to 37 minutes and is given 5 days a week for approximately 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your provider’s recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.
How does TMS work?
TMS involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain.
How long is TMS treatment?
A typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes daily over 4-6 weeks.
Is TMS Therapy covered by my insurance?
A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans.
Is TMS Therapy a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications?
TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, sedation, etc. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort —generally mild to moderate—occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
Is TMS Therapy like other alternative therapies that use magnets to treat some illnesses?
No. TMS Therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for a therapeutic benefit. The intensity of the magnetic field is similar to that of an MRI. These techniques differ radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells is a key part of why TMS is so effective.
TMS Clinical Trials & Academic Studies
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Request a NeuroStar TMS Consultation
To find out whether NeuroStar TMS Therapy may be right for you, contact Rapha Health LLC at 413-579-8808 or send us a message.
Visit neurostar.com for indications for use and safety information.