Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS is a simple, effective treatment that can be life changing for people living with treatment-resistant depression. TMS may be a good option for you, if:

• You have depression but have made inadequate progress with talk therapy
• You have tried two or more antidepressant medications and they are not working
• The side effects from your antidepressant medication are hard to live with

How TMS Works

People living with severe depression have less electrical activity in certain parts of their brains. As a result, their brains don’t do a good job of regulating emotions and daily functions, such as appetite, sleep and energy. TMS uses a series of brief, repetitive, focused magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells in affected areas, resulting in measurable increases in brain activity and improvements in depression symptoms.

Highly Effective

• TMS is nearly twice as effective as first-time treatment with antidepressant medications
• It’s about six times as effective as antidepressants in people who have tried multiple medications without success
• After about 36 daily treatments, more than 60 percent of people see improvements in their symptoms, even if depression has debilitated them for years

Few Side Effects

TMS is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for adults that is typically used when antidepressants have failed or medication side effects are intolerable. TMS has none of the side effects, such as dizziness, blurred vision, weight gain or memory loss, that often happen with antidepressants. The most  common TMS side effects are mild to moderate scalp discomfort and mild headaches, both of which only last for a short time.

What Happens During Treatment?

The magnetic coil that delivers TMS is positioned on your head. You will hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head when the magnetic pulses are delivered. Treatment sessions last 3 to 20 minutes and are typically performed five days a week for about six weeks. You remain awake and alert throughout treatment. Afterward, you will be able to drive home and resume normal activities for the rest of the day.

How To Get Started

• Walk in for an assessment and referral to TMS evaluation at our Almira Campus, 5455 Almira Drive NE, Bremerton, WA 98311
• Assessments are available 8 am to 4 pm Mondays through Fridays
• Call 360-373-5031 for more information
• Insurance – Medicaid, Medicare or uninsured are preferred; services are also available to clients with commercial insurance on a sliding fee scale

Neil S. Hirsch TMS Clinic

Our TMS clinic is made possible by a grant from the Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS that was funded by the Neil S. Hirsch Foundation. Magstim TMS donated our treatment device. The goal of the grant program is to make TMS available to people who would otherwise be unable to access it, and the KMHS clinic is designed to be a model that can be replicated across the country.