Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is an FDA-approved non-invasive treatment for adults with depression. TMS uses magnetic energy to create an electrical current in the brain. The electrical current is narrowly targeted to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is implicated in depression and anxiety. Multiple studies have indicated that TMS is an effective treatment for major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other psychiatric illnesses with low risk and minimal side effects.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation may be an appropriate and effective therapy for adults:

• diagnosed with major depressive disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder*
• with treatment-resistant depression
• whose depression symptoms have not responded to medications
• who cannot take antidepressant medications due to allergies or other contraindications

*Specific TMS treatment for OCD is not currently offered at Skyland Trail, but individuals with co-occurring depression and OCD are encouraged to contact us to discuss treatment options.

Due to its proven efficiency, TMS Therapy may be covered by your health insurance. Our outpatient TMS service in Atlanta is in-network with several major insurances. We do not accept Medicaid or Medicare. The Skyland Trail Glenn Family Wellness Clinic is in network with four insurance companies: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Health Care.

During each session, the patient is awake and alert. The patient sits in a comfortable reclining chair and wears a fabric cap. The part of the machine that touches the head is called "the coil," and it will rest lightly on the top of the scalp. TMS is a non-invasive therapy for depression; there are no needles and no electrodes. During the first session, the psychiatrist will determine the best placement of the coil on the patient's scalp and the optimal strength of the magnetic pulse to produce a response.

With Skyland Trail's Theta Burst Stimulation technology, TMS sessions can be delivered in 5 to 18 minutes and with minimal discomfort. After each session, patients can resume normal activities for the rest of day including driving, returning to work, or other planned activities.