TMS Services in Minnesota 

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS is an evidence-based, non-invasive brain stimulation that uses pulsating magnetic fields to stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain to improve symptoms of depression. 

Ellie Mental Health will be using the Deep H1 BrainsWay helmet, which targets an area of the brain important in depression.

• Patients 18 years of age or older 
• Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent, severe without psychosis (F33.2) 
• Typically a trial of four antidepressant medications from two different classes of meds without improvement (this varies between insurance companies)  
• Sufficient trial of evidence-based psychotherapy  

• Patients with non-removable metal in their head or neck 
• Patients with a history of seizures or a current seizure disorder 
• Bipolar disorder 
• Active psychosis  
• Patients who are pregnant   

TMS is covered by most medical insurance carriers for the treatment of depression but clinical criteria must be met. Ellie’s TMS Coordinator can assist in determining if TMS is a covered service and if prior authorization is required before starting.

TMS produces a loud clicking sound with each pulse, similar to an MRI machine. Clients are seated during each session. A lot of clients compare TMS to a woodpecker tapping a small area of their head repeatedly. Treatment may feel uncomfortable at first but gets better with time. 

A full course of TMS consists of 36 treatments over an 8-week period. Patients will come to the office Monday-Friday and receive treatment every day. A treatment session lasts 30 minutes.

TMS is an outpatient procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain. There are minor side effects with TMS and it does not induce seizures.

ECT is a much more intense and invasive treatment that requires anesthesia. This treatment is done in a hospital setting. ECT uses a current to induce seizures and can have side effects such as memory loss. 

TMS has FDA Clearance for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Smoking Addiction, and Anxious Depression. At this time, Ellie is only treating Major Depressive Disorder.

In the multicenter clinical trial that led to FDA clearance, 1 in 3 patients achieved full remission from their depression and 38.4% had their depressive symptoms reduced by 50% after 20 treatments. Existing evidence to date suggests that patients who are less treatment-resistant respond better to TMS than those who are highly treatment-resistant.

The most common side effects clients see are headache and fatigue. These are mild and generally diminished over the course of treatment.

Every patient experience results differently. Some patients will feel results more quickly than others. However, this doesn’t mean that treatment is ineffective.

Yes, it is recommended to continue therapy and take medications after a course of TMS.

TMS does not require a recovery time after treatments. Patients can drive to and from treatments and return to normal activities after each session.

• Ellie uses a BrainsWay Deep TMS helmet which can reach wider areas of the brain while also directly stimulating those structures located in its deeper regions.
• We want clients to get TMS where they feel comfortable!
• A huge benefit of TMS at Ellie is the therapy staff is so extensive. Having your treatments all within the same health system so your team can collaborate is always a plus.
• TMS often feels scary and Ellie’s mission is to make mental health treatments approachable.