TMS Colorado Springs
WHAT IS DEEP TMS?
Deep TMS is a noninvasive mental health treatment which activates your Left Prefrontal Cortex by directing electromagnetic fields deep within your brain. This electromagnetic field changes the way your neurons work and helps to reduce the symptoms of some mental health and medical conditions. The Brainsway Deep TMS technology we offer uses a patented technology called an “H-Coil”, that is contained within the BrainsWay helmet that is worn during your treatment. The H-Coil maximizes electrical stimulation of your deep brain regions to generate the best results. Deep TMS is a drug-free alternative to medication, and is a great alternative if you are not responding to your current medication or cannot tolerate the side effects.
WHO IS DEEP TMS FOR?
Deep TMS is currently FDA-cleared to treat and significantly improve symptoms of:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- OCD
- Nicotine Addiction (Smoking, dip/chew, vaping, etc)
- Anxious Depression
TMS is also commonly effective for many “off-label” conditions, such as:
- PTSD
- Fibromyalgia
- Cancer patients
- Neuropathic Pain
- Migraines/Headaches
- Personality Disorders
- Substance Use Disorders (Addiction)
- Tardive Dyskinesia
- Insomnia
DEEP TMS TREATMENT DETAILS
The course treatment entails coming into the clinic for a 20 min TMS session once a day, Monday-Friday, over a period of 4-6 weeks. You can return to your normal daily life immediately after each TMS treatment. Most patients complete a total of around 30 sessions, then 6 tapering sessions, before they see full symptom remission. Booster TMS sessions are available if symptoms recur within the following months after treatment. Many insurances will cover a TMS treatment course every year if the previous course of TMS resulted in a 50% improvement in symptoms.
BrainsWay’s patented H Coil enables deeper and broader brain stimulation than traditional TMS “figure-8” coils. Deep TMS results in greater activation of neurons, less error, and high rates of successful treatment. Deep TMS can be used as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with medication therapy.
Brainsway.com is an excellent source of detailed information on the specialized type of TMS device we use at Colorado Recovery Solutions.
WHY IS DEEP TMS EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF MDD?
Behavioral and functional consequences of depression are due to alterations in brain activity. In depression, a whole distributed network of brain areas is affected. The idea of applying Deep TMS for the treatment of depression is to precisely target the areas of the brain involved in Depression or Major Depressive Disorder. The part of the brain that is being stimulated is located to the left side of the brain, specifically the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, or in short Left-DLPFC. This area is the prime target for Deep TMS treatment, as it is a focal point connecting all the different brain areas that are involved in the pathology of depression (Anderson, Hoy, Daskalakis, & Fitzgerald, 2016; Tik et al., 2017).
WHY IS DEEP TMS EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF OCD?
Deep TMS is the only non-invasive medical device that is FDA-cleared with published clinical efficacy data to treat OCD, Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or Deep TMS, utilizes magnetic fields to safely regulate the neural activity of brain structures such as the anterior cingulate cortex, which have been found to be associated with OCD. The treatment’s effectiveness was reaffirmed in a 2019 multicenter study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry. Specifically, the study found that Deep TMS’s regulating the neural functions of “the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex significantly improved OCD symptoms.”
Find more information on how effective it is on Brainways.
DEPRESSION TREATMENT WITHOUT SYSTEMIC SIDE EFFECTS
Deep TMS is a great option if you have had trouble tolerating the side effects of your mental health medications. Deep TMS has virtually no side effects and is a welcome change for someone who has felt like a guinea pig during medication trials only for the medication to not work well long term. Please keep in mind that Deep TMS treatment is approved to be used with most existing medications, so if needed the treatments can be used in conjunction with each other.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Deep TMS is available to patients through private pay or through the following insurances:
- Cigna
- Medicare
- Tricare
- Aetna
- Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield
- TriWest (VA)
Pricing by insurance co-pay can vary. Ask our staff if you have any questions or concerns.
If your health insurance is not listed, we can request a Single Case Agreement on your behalf from any other insurance that has a TMS benefit.
PRIVATE PAY OPTIONS
Call us at (719)622-6522 for private pay rates and fees.
TMS FOR VETERANS
We believe in giving back to our troops and accept Tricare Insurance to allow more people access to high-quality military health services. You can view co-pay information and other information on the Tricare insurance website.
TMS FAQS
Who is TMS intended for?
TMS may be indicated if you have:
— treatment-resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) –Anxious Depression
–Moderate to severe Major Depressive Disorder –Substance Use Disorders, including nicotine dependence.
–Treatment-resistant depression where medications haven’t worked. Individuals have generally failed 2-4 antidepressant and augmentor medication trials as well as a course of psychotherapy, before starting TMS (criteria may vary based on your insurance).
–not been satisfied with the results you get from your medication(s) –not tolerated the side effects of your medication(s)
–an illness that limits your ability to take medications for depression –depression and anxiety symptoms that interfere with your daily life
Who is NOT a good candidate for TMS?
TMS may be contraindicated if you have: –implanted devices
–implants controlled by physiological signals; this includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and vagus nerve stimulators (VNS);
–non-removable ferromagnetic objects/plates in or around the head; this does not include metallic fillings in teeth.
You may be at high risk if you have uncontrolled epilepsy, a history of severe head injury, or other serious neurologic issues. A medical screening will be conducted to determine if you are a good candidate for TMS.
Are there any lifestyle limitations for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
Due to the serious risk of seizures when combining alcohol or illicit drugs with TMS, you must not use illicit or recreational drugs (including marijuana) and alcohol while being treated with TMS. Otherwise, TMS does not usually interfere with your normal daily life activities – to include attending school, working, and driving. A mild headache or scalp soreness may occur in the first few sessions and then resolve soon after.
What is the difference between a standard 20 minute TMS session and the 3 minute (Theta Burst) TMS session?
Theta-burst may feel more intense due to a faster stimulation rhythm compared to the 20 minute Standard session. Otherwise, the efficacy of both treatment times is similar.
What insurances cover TMS services?
Currently, Colorado Recovery Solutions is an in-network provider with TriCare, Medicare, and Cigna. However, we are expecting to be in-network with several other insurance companies in the very near future (i.e. Aetna, TriWest (VA), United/Optum, Anthem/BCBS).
If we are out of network with your insurance, we can still submit a prior authorization on your behalf, if you meet treatment-resistant criteria for depression or OCD. If TMS is authorized by your insurance, we will negotiate a “single case agreement” with your insurance for you to be covered. You can call your insurance directly or we can help verify your benefits for TMS, if you send a picture of the front and back of your insurance card to team@coresolutions.health. NOTE: Medicaid does not cover TMS.
How long does it take to complete TMS to be effective for depression?
Typically, 20 to 40 sessions are needed to achieve full remission of depression. At Colorado
Recovery Solutions, we provide 30 TMS sessions at 5 days for 6-8 weeks. Once the patient reaches their 30th session, they then have 6 taper treatments where the patient will come in two days per week for 3 weeks. So, a total of 36 sessions in most cases, depending on your response. 75% of patients achieve full remission of depression at session 30.
What type of TMS device do you use?
Our TMS device was created by Brainsway. To know more about this brand go to www.brainsway.com. Brainsway is the only TMS manufacturer who has developed patented “Deep” TMS technology; which may be, on average, 18% more effective that other conventional (or “figure 8”) TMS devices. Brainsway TMS devices are FDA approved to treat Major Depressive Disorder, Anxious Depression, OCD and Nicotine Dependence.
Are there any side effects after TMS sessions?
Mild headaches and scalp tenderness may be common after the first few treatments; mild drowsiness within one hour after the session, and rare risk of seizure (typically only when combined with alcohol).
Who is qualified to administer TMS?
Our TMS technicians are trained and certified through Brainsway and supervised by Psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Johnson. As recommended by the Clinical TMS Society, our TMS service is overseen by Dr. Ashley Johnson, a residency-trained psychiatric physician (psychiatrist) and board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Our team ensures patients are provided with the highest standard of care and compassion.