Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Frequently Asked Questions

At UT Health Austin, we focus on you, the whole patient, making sure that you have the support you need throughout your care. We take a multidisciplinary approach to your care, meaning you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines. This multidisciplinary, coordinated care model makes it easier for patients to get the care they need without having to make multiple trips to various locations. Our goal is to connect you with an academic mood disorder expert trained in treatment-resistant depression to help improve your overall quality of life.

Our experienced healthcare professionals deliver personalized, whole-person care and treat each patient as an individual with unique circumstances, values, and beliefs. Through the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation service, patients gain access to a mood disorder expert trained in treatment-resistant depression who can help improve those patients’ overall quality of life.

We also collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to provide you with cutting-edge medical treatment options.

The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation care team includes psychiatrists, social workers, and more who work together with your referring provider to ensure your care is delivered seamlessly.

Yes, appointments are available by referral only. Speak with your primary care provider to request a referral.

If you need assistance with getting a referral, please call the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation care team at 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737) and we will be happy to help.

Your initial appointment will consist of a 60 to 90-minute consultation with the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation care team who will review your medical history and determine your candidacy for undergoing TMS. We typically have patients begin with five treatments per week for 4-6 weeks, for an average of 20-30 treatments. After this initial course of treatment, individual treatment sessions will taper down to three treatments per week for one week, two treatments per week for one week, etc. The amount of time each treatment session takes depends on the variation of TMS used.

To explore FAQs regarding your upcoming appointment, please click here.

TMS is a cutting-edge approach to treating major depressive disorder in when antidepressants have failed to provide relief or the side effects of these medications are not well-tolerated. TMS serves as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as shock therapy. Unlike ECT, TMS is a noninvasive procedure with a low risk for complications or side-effects. TMS is FDA-approved and involves delivering a series of focused magnetic pulses to an area of the brain (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) known to be underactive in major depression.

During TMS treatment, an electromagnetic coil is placed on the scalp over the left prefrontal cortex. A small magnetic field is generated, which passes through the scalp and skull into the outer layer of the brain (cortex). This magnetic field stimulates brain cells (neurons) to fire and rewire with other regions of the brain to improve symptoms of psychiatric disorders, such as depression. This form of stimulation is performed without causing a seizure or requiring anesthesia, and patients can safely drive as well as return to normal activities following each treatment.

TMS is a safe and well-tolerated treatment with few known adverse effects. Side effects are generally mild to moderate, improve shortly after an individual session, and decrease over time, allowing patients to return to their daily activities after treatment.

Common side effects include:

• Mild headache
• Mild to moderate scalp discomfort
• Tingling, spasms, or twitching of the facial muscles

There are less than 10 TMS machines in the local Austin area. Unlike other Austin providers, patients at UT Health Austin will be seen by an academic mood disorder expert trained in treatment-resistant depression, rather than a general psychiatrist.

Advantages of TMS include:

• TMS is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment with a low risk for complications or side-effects.
• Treatment sessions last 10 minutes, allowing for minimal disruption to your schedule.
• Patients have the flexibility to drive themselves to and from appointments, eliminating the need for additional transportation arrangements.
• The most common side effect experienced is a mild headache, which typically subsides after treatment and is well-tolerated.