6 Myths about TMS Treatment Debunked

Myth #1. TMS Treatment is not covered by insurance and cost too much.

TMS Treatment is widely covered by most of the major insurance companies out there. At Salience TMS, we accept most major insurance providers. Cost of treatment is on a case-by-case basis. Before treatment begins, your patient advocate will verify coverage and review your insurance benefits with you, making sure you know the cost before getting started.

In 2018 our average patient cost per treatment was $29.00, making TMS an affordable option for all. While other providers may make you pay for everything upfront and pay cash and file your insurance, Salience TMS offers many different payment options with in-house financing, if needed.

Myth #2. TMS Treatment is shocking my brain like ECT.

Many people confuse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Treatment with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Confusing the two is understandable as both are forms of treatment used to help patients treat depression, but this is the only thing that these have in common.

While ECT uses an electrical current to stimulate the entire brain, TMS Treatment safely treats the Salience Network area of the brain using magnetic pulses to strengthen your brain’s ability to relay the signals you need to regulate mood and behavior. Treatment is non-invasive, performed in an outpatient setting, very safe, and allows patients to return to normal daily activities after.

Myth #3. TMS Treatment is only the patient’s head and effects wear off after.

The National Institute of Mental Health has funded many clinical trials proving the effectiveness of TMS Treatment using a double-blind controlled group. For example, in a study done in 2007, 155 patients received active (real) TMS Treatment, and 146 patients received sham (fake) TMS. The real group showed significantly better outcomes than the sham group.

There have also been multiple qEEG and Pet Scans images of patients before and after TMS Treatment. It shows physical changes to the communication of their neurotransmitters, and numerous research studies prove physical changes in the brain.

Over the last ten years since its FDA approval in 2008, TMS Treatment has proven to be highly effective for patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder.

Myth #4. TMS Treatment takes too much time daily to complete.

Most people believe TMS to be time-consuming for the patients, but we are here to say otherwise. While most TMS Treatment centers take about 1 to 1 and ½ hours to complete treatment, Salience TMS patients are in and out of the office in less than 30 minutes.

Our treatment team is dedicated to making TMS Treatment an option for even the busiest patients. We have 12 convenient locations across DFW with treatment times from 6 am – 7 pm. With TMS being a non-invasive treatment, patients can return to normal daily activities after.

For many of our patients, we can find a location either close to their home or office, making TMS Treatment a convenient option.

Myth #5. TMS is not safe and has many adverse side effects.

Across many research and clinical studies on TMS, there has been no evidence of TMS being an unsafe treatment. TMS Treatment is well tolerated by most patients and has not shown evidence of severe or adverse effects in patients.

There are no known long-term side effects as a result of TMS Treatment. The most common short-term side effects with TMS patients are temporary scalp discomfort at or near the site of treatment and potential of a minor headache. These short-term side effects usually resolve within the first week or two of treatment.

Myth #6. TMS can only be used as a therapy option for adult patients.

Although it is not FDA-approved for ages 12-22, TMS Treatment has been proven safe and effective treatment for adolescents.

As many as 40% of young people with major depressive disorder fail to respond to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, leading to an increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization, poor social development, and attempted suicide.

In the research done by the Mayo Clinic, most of the children and adolescents who completed TMS Treatment saw improvement in their depression symptoms. None of the patients or family members reported any adverse changes in memory, cognition, and focus. In addition, some patients showed improvement in these areas.

At Salience TMS, we will see patients as young as 12. Our internal data shows us that up to 85% of our adolescent patients have reported improvement from TMS Treatment.

World-Class TMS Treatment at Salience TMS.

TMS Treatment is a very effective and safe treatment option for people suffering from treatment-resistant depression. At Salience TMS, our remission rates range from 50%-60% compared to the national average of well below 50%.

Our high remission rates are a result of our clinical partnerships with UTSW to enhance our treatment and our TMS Treatment Directors’ dedication to improving and optimizing our patient’s outcomes.

To learn more about what makes Salience different, call us at (214) 880-8778. You can also visit our website at www.salienceneuro.com.