Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Providing Hope for Beating Depression

You are not alone. More than 300 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. In fact, it is the leading cause of disability. Depression is treatable, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective form of treatment.

Call 610-297-7500 to request an appointment today.

What is TMS?

When you are depressed, portions of your brain decrease in activity. TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the areas of your brain that control your mood and depression. This FDA-approved treatment has been shown to be safe and beneficial for patients who have not had success with antidepressant medications and therapy, or who cannot tolerate antidepressant medications due to side effects.

What to expect?

For the treatment, you will be reclined in a comfortable, specially-designed chair. A small curved magnetic device will be gently placed against your head. The TMS machine then delivers magnetic pulses directly to the targeted areas of the brain. A full treatment course of TMS is 36 sessions. Daily treatments are approximately 20 minutes in length and occur 5 days per week for the first 30 treatments. The final six treatments will be tapered over two to three weeks. Since there are no lingering side effects from treatment, you can immediately go back to your normal activities, including driving and working.

Is TMS right for you?

Individuals who have tried antidepressant medications and therapy, but continue to have depression symptoms that interfere with everyday life, may benefit from TMS. If you have experienced side effects from depression medications or are worried about potential side effects, this treatment can be an effective alternative.

How is TMS different?

Performed in an outpatient setting
Provides clinically significant improvement in depression symptoms
Does not interrupt daily activities
No anesthesia needed
Few or no side effects (Most common side effects are a mild headache and/or scalp discomfort.)
You are not required to stop taking medications
Safe and well tolerated