Treating Depression: Learn the Ins and Outs of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment at Crouse

According to the World Health Organization, roughly 280 million people live with depression across the globe. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States.

For some, taking antidepressant medication doesn’t ease the symptoms of depression.

Crouse Health offers a treatment for depression that is non-invasive with little to no side effects.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression

Most TMS patients are adults who have been diagnosed with MDD and have been unable to achieve satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medication.

TMS uses a focused electromagnetic coil to rapidly pulse a magnetic field to the targeted area of the brain. The magnetic pulses induce an electrical current stimulating the nerve cells, increasing brain activity back to normal levels. This treatment does not involve surgery and is FDA-approved.

The TMS treatment course lasts eight weeks, with each session lasting about 20 minutes. The patient will be expected to come in for 34-36 sessions.

“For the first six weeks, the patient will come in five days a week for treatment. They will then be on a two-week taper of three times per week,” explained Tolani Ajagbe, MD, Medical Director of Addiction Treatment Services.

To begin the process of receiving TMS treatment you will need a referral from your provider. During initial contact with the treatment office, demographic and insurance information will be collected and a consultation appointment will be set up. After obtaining authorization from your insurance company, you will schedule your initial mapping and treatment sessions. Patients are able to select appointment times that work best for them between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If antidepressant medications aren’t working to ease your symptoms of depression, talk with your provider to determine if this could be the right treatment for you.

Crouse Health offers TMS services at our Pomeroy Treatment Center at 2775 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. To set up a referral appointment contact the TMS program staff at 315-470-8374.

Ashton Laird is the Communications Apprentice at Crouse Health.