Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

TMS in Atlanta for Adults with Depression

Located in Atlanta, Skyland Trail offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) depression treatment services. TMS depression therapy is offered as an outpatient service, as well as an add-on service to adult clients in our psychiatric residential treatment and day treatment programs.

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Financial Information for TMS Therapy in Atlanta

Due to its proven efficiency, TMS Therapy may be covered by your health insurance. We accept private pay and 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.

What is TMS? How does TMS work?

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.

Image of the 50 Hz Theta Burst Stimulation MagVenture TMS Therapy machine at the Glenn Family Wellness Clinic at Skyland Trail

TMS Treatment for Depression: What to Expect

Patients, family members, or mental health providers are encouraged to contact the Skyland Trail Glenn Family Wellness Clinic to learn more about TMS services for depression. The patient can be scheduled for a complimentary consultation with a psychiatrist to determine if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation may be an appropriate therapy to address current depression symptoms and treatment goals.

If interested and clinically appropriate, the next step will be a one-hour appointment with the psychiatrist to complete a psychiatric history and obtain the information needed to complete an insurance authorization.

After insurance has authorized the treatment or other financial arrangements have been made, the first TMS session can be scheduled. 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 under 4 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.

A typical course of TMS is about 36 sessions. Patients come to Skyland Trail in the Brookhaven community of Atlanta, GA, five days a week (Monday-Friday) for about six weeks. Additional sessions may be scheduled as needed.

What are the risks and side effects of TMS? Is TMS safe?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation was approved by the FDA in 2008. The most common reported side effects reported are mild scalp discomfort at the treatment site and headaches. These side effects usually subside after the first week of treatment and typically can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Because there is a very small risk of seizure (less than 1%), patients should discuss any history of seizures with the psychiatrist before beginning treatment.