First, you will meet with one of our expert psychiatrists and undergo a comprehensive evaluation. We will ask you about your personal experience of depression and the other treatments you have tried. We will also ask about any medical problems or other issues to ensure that it is safe to proceed with TMS treatment. We will discuss a typical course of TMS treatment, the risks and benefits of TMS, and share our initial thoughts about your personal treatment plan.
After your consultation appointment, we will reach out to your referring doctor to coordinate care. If you are a candidate for TMS treatment, we will request authorization from your insurance company to ensure they will cover the treatment, before moving forward. This process usually takes about 1-2 weeks. If you are not a candidate for TMS treatment, we will share our impression and make additional recommendations to you and your referring doctor.
Before you begin treatment, you should know that you may continue your psychiatric medications during TMS treatment. You may also drive yourself to and from your treatment sessions, and if you are currently working, you can plan to continue working during your treatment course. You can expect that each treatment session will last around 30-60 minutes, depending on your personalized treatment plan.
On your first day of treatment, your appointment will be a little longer. You can expect the first appointment to last around 1-2 hours, depending on your needs. First, you will complete paperwork and questionnaires that help us track your symptoms over time and your progress in treatment. Then, you will be escorted to a private and comfortable treatment room, and seated in one of our treatment chairs.
One of our TMS technicians (click here to meet our technicians) will greet you and answer any initial questions. They will make sure that you are situated comfortably before fitting you with a specialized cap that helps the psychiatrist accurately target the treatment.
Then, the psychiatrist will meet with you to review the risks and benefits of TMS and answer any questions you may have. On the first day, the psychiatrist and technician will do a short procedure called checking a “motor threshold,” which allows us to determine the best treatment intensity for you. This takes about 5-15 minutes and allows us to customize the intensity of the treatment for you.
You will be given earplugs before the treatment starts, because it can be a bit noisy. After making sure all of your questions are answered and you are as comfortable as possible, the psychiatrist will begin the treatment. During the procedure, you will be seated comfortably, remain awake and alert, and may watch Netflix on our flat screen TVs, may read, listen to music or podcasts, talk with a friend, or just relax — whatever helps make you most comfortable.
During treatment, you will be able to feel the magnet pulsing. Most patients say this is not painful, but it can be uncomfortable. People often describe it as a “firm tapping” or a “woodpecker pecking” on their heads. Treatment can last from just 9 minutes to over an hour, depending on your needs. After the first few treatment sessions, you may experience mild headache or fatigue, which usually resolve on their own. You may continue regular activities immediately after each session and may drive yourself home from the session.
At every treatment session, you will meet with one of our expert psychiatrists to discuss your symptoms, review any possible side effects of treatment, adjust your TMS treatment protocol to ensure you have the best possible response to treatment, and address any questions you have about your treatment.
You might be wondering what a TMS treatment looks, sounds, and–most importantly–feels like. The following short video demonstrates a typical TMS treatment at UCLA:
