Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that uses targeted magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. Unlike medications that affect the entire body, TMS precisely targets the brain regions involved in depression, OCD, PTSD, and anxiety disorders.

TMS works by delivering focused magnetic pulses to underactive areas of the brain, literally reactivating neural circuits that have become disrupted by mental health conditions. This targeted approach can restore normal brain function and provide significant symptom relief for patients who haven’t responded to traditional treatments.

The Science: How TMS Works Differently

Precision Targeting: TMS uses advanced brain mapping to target the exact areas of your brain that need stimulation, particularly the left prefrontal cortex which is often underactive in depression.
Non-Invasive and Medication-Free: Unlike psychiatric medications that circulate throughout your body, TMS affects only the targeted brain areas with no systemic side effects. There’s no sedation, memory loss, or need for anesthesia.
Neuroplasticity Enhancement: The magnetic stimulation promotes the growth of new neural connections and strengthens existing pathways, creating lasting changes in brain function that persist beyond the treatment period.
Research Evidence: Clinical studies demonstrate that approximately 90% of patients with treatment-resistant depression experience significant improvement with TMS therapy, with many achieving complete remission of symptoms.

Our Approach: What Makes TMS at Krasner Institute Different

Clinical Integration, Not Just Technology: TMS is delivered by experienced psychiatrists and integrated into your ongoing psychotherapy, not treated as a standalone device service administered by technicians alone.
Personalized Treatment Protocols: We offer both standard and accelerated TMS protocols, tailoring the approach to your specific needs, schedule, and treatment response rather than using a one-size-fits-all method.
Comprehensive Assessment-Driven Care: TMS treatment is guided by your thorough psychiatric assessment, ensuring the intervention addresses your unique personality, mental function, and family dynamics rather than just targeting symptoms.

What to Expect During Treatment

During Treatment: You’ll sit comfortably in a chair while the TMS device delivers gentle magnetic pulses to your scalp. Most patients describe the sensation as light tapping. You remain fully awake and alert throughout the session, and can read, listen to music, or talk with our staff.
Session Details: Each treatment takes less than 20 minutes, and you can drive yourself to and from appointments. There’s no recovery time needed—you can return to work or normal activities immediately after each session.
Treatment Course: Most patients complete 36 sessions over 6-9 weeks (typically 5 sessions per week initially, then tapering). Some patients benefit from our accelerated protocols which can achieve results more quickly.

Standard and Accelerated TMS

Standard Protocol: Traditional TMS delivered over 6-9 weeks with sessions Monday through Friday, allowing gradual but steady improvement in brain function.
Accelerated Protocol: Intensive TMS treatment delivered over shorter timeframes for patients who need more rapid relief or have scheduling constraints. As leaders in interventional psychiatry, we are also pioneering the use of highly compressed protocols, including one-week and even single-day treatments, when clinically appropriate. This cutting-edge approach delivers a full course of care in a fraction of the time, providing rapid relief from severe depression.
Monitoring and Adjustment: We continuously track your progress using validated assessment tools and adjust treatment parameters to optimize your response throughout the course of therapy.

Conditions We Treat with TMS

Treatment-resistant depression (failed 2+ antidepressant trials)
Major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder

TMS is available for patients 15 years and older, with specialized protocols for different age groups and conditions.

Safety and Side Effects

Excellent Safety Profile: TMS has been extensively studied and used safely in clinical practice for over two decades. Serious side effects are extremely rare when proper protocols are followed.
Common Side Effects: The most frequent side effect is mild scalp discomfort or light headache during or immediately after treatment, which typically resolves after the first few sessions as patients adjust to the sensation.
Medical Monitoring: Each patient undergoes comprehensive medical screening before treatment, and we monitor your response and comfort level throughout every session to ensure optimal safety and effectiveness.

Enhancing Neuroplasticity: The D-cycloserine Advantage

At our practice, we don’t just treat symptoms—we focus on creating lasting change in the brain. We are one of the few practices pioneering the use of D-cycloserine (DCS), an adjunctive medication that enhances the neuroplasticity effects of TMS. Paired with our TMS protocols, DCS works to strengthen new neural connections, which may lead to faster, more robust, and more enduring improvements. This collaborative approach, which we call Assess. Treat. Plan., is designed to not only bring relief but also to help you build a more resilient brain for the future.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

You’ve shown incredible courage continuing to seek help. That persistence deserves an approach as dedicated as your efforts have been.

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Serving Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey with advanced depression treatment options.

Advanced Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Conditions