Accelerated TMS (aTMS) is a new approach to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. Both therapies use gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain linked to mood and emotional regulation, however aTMS offers a more intensive, condensed treatment schedule.
Instead of receiving one treatment a day over a period of 4 to 6 weeks, as with traditional TMS, aTMS is given 3 to 5 times a day over a period of just two weeks. This makes it ideal for people with busy schedules or needing quick relief.
In this article, we’ll explore the difference between accelerated TMS and traditional TMS to help you understand which option makes the most sense for your unique needs and circumstances.
Key takeaways:
- TMS therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for depression and a range of other mental health conditions. It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain and release neurotransmitters crucial for mood regulation.
- While traditional TMS therapy takes place five days a week for 4 to 6 weeks, aTMS condenses treatment sessions into two weeks with 3 to 5 sessions a day. This option is suitable for people with busy lifestyles or those seeking quick relief from symptoms.
- Both TMS and aTMS show promising results in relieving depression symptoms, especially for those who haven’t found relief from conventional treatments like medication and talk therapy.
- The choice between TMS and aTMS is personal and should consider factors like treatment history, mental health, and lifestyle commitments. While aTMS offers quick results, traditional TMS provides a more gradual and slow-paced approach.
- Traditional TMS is covered by most insurance plans for major depression and treatment-resistant depression, however accelerated TMS might not be covered by your insurance provider. It’s important to check before scheduling sessions.
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved therapy used to treat major depressive disorder. Sometimes called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, this innovative treatment uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific regions of the brain that may be underactive in people with depression. By stimulating these regions, TMS therapy helps release essential neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, which play an important role in regulating mood and emotional well-being.
While TMS therapy is mostly used for treating depression, its benefits extend to a range of other mental health conditions, including anxiety, bipolar depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain neurological disorders, such as fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease.
See More: Using TMS Therapy For Fibromyalgia
TMS therapy has numerous benefits, including being non-invasive and non-systemic. As an outpatient procedure, the treatment doesn’t require anesthesia and patients are free to drive home after sessions and continue with their day as usual.
One of the limitations of traditional TMS therapy is that it requires a significant time commitment. Each session lasts around 20 to 30 minutes and the treatment is administered 5 days a week for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. While this gradual approach allows for steady progress in relieving symptoms, the daily commitment over several weeks can be a barrier for some people.
What is accelerated TMS therapy?
Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or aTMS, offers a more accessible solution for those who find it hard to commit to traditional TMS therapy. Both treatments use the same magnetic pulses to stimulate brain regions associated with mood regulation, but aTMS does it faster and more intensively.
Instead of spreading treatments over several weeks, aTMS condenses it into just two weeks. Patients usually attend 3 to 5 sessions a day, with each accelerated TMS treatment session lasting around 9 minutes, followed by a 45-minute break. This quicker pace not only makes the process faster, but also more effective for those wanting immediate relief.
Many patients report noticing improvements a lot sooner with aTMS than with traditional TMS, making it an appealing option for anyone facing time constraints or seeking quick results. Despite its more intensive nature, aTMS fits seamlessly into busy lifestyles. Patients can jump back into routines immediately after each session, and even use their breaks to work remotely.
How does accelerated TMS work?
Accelerated TMS is designed to provide the benefits of standard TMS therapy in a shorter, more concentrated timeframe for faster treatment outcomes.
During each session, you’ll start by being comfortably seated in a chair while a small coil is placed gently on your head. This coil delivers magnetic pulses to targeted regions of the brain responsible for regulating mood, behavior, and cognition. The process is completely non-invasive, so you’ll be awake and alert throughout the entire session.
aTMS sessions are brief, lasting around 9 minutes followed by a 45-minute break. You can spend your breaks doing whatever you like, whether that’s reading, watching TV, or doing some remote work. This cycle is repeated 3 to 5 times a day for about two weeks. While the schedule is much more intensive compared to traditional TMS, it means patients can experience relief from symptoms much sooner.
One of the main benefits of aTMS is that it doesn’t disrupt your daily routine. After your session is over, you can immediately return to home, school, or work without any downtime. This balance between effective therapy, promising results, and fitting into your lifestyle makes aTMS an appealing option for those seeking fast, efficient, and non-disruptive mental health care.
Keep Reading: Is TMS Appropriate for Treating Adolescents With Depression?
Benefits of aTMS vs traditional TMS
There are three main areas where aTMS stands out compared to traditional TMS therapy. These are:
- Speed: aTMS provides rapid relief for depressive symptoms. While it can take several weeks to experience relief through traditional TMS, people undergoing aTMS can notice results within days.
- Efficacy: Studies generally show that aTMS is as effective as standard TMS, however some even suggest higher remission rates when using accelerated TMS for treatment-resistant depression.
- Convenience: Ultimately, the shorter treatment duration of aTMS makes it a more convenient option for people who can’t take prolonged time off work, need to travel long distances for treatment, or juggle busy lifestyles.
Is TMS therapy effective?
Research shows that TMS therapy is an effective depression treatment. In one Harvard Medical School study, more than half of people with depression responded well to TMS therapy. About one third of those experienced a full remission with symptoms disappearing completely.
Another study tracked TMS patients for a year after treatment. 62.5% of those who responded to TMS were still doing better a year later and 45.1% of those who achieved remission were still living with no depression symptoms. On top of that, 84.2% of patients who benefited from TMS but didn’t go into remission after their first round of treatment did so during the second round.
The research into aTMS is just as promising, showing it can be as effective as traditional TMS. Some research even shows that aTMS has higher remission rates for treatment-resistant depression. In one study by Stanford Medicine, 79% of aTMS patients achieved remission after their treatments, with results sustained for several months afterwards
Who is TMS for?
Both traditional TMS and accelerated TMS are ideal options for people seeking relief from depression, especially if they haven’t found success through conventional treatments like medication or talk therapy.
Specifically, TMS and aTMS are recommended for people who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) or treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and:
- Have tried at least two different antidepressants from two classes (SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs) without seeing results, OR
- Are unable to tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications, OR
- Have an illness that limits their ability to use antidepressants.
Both therapies can also be used ‘off-label’ to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
Continue Reading: Who Qualifies for TMS Therapy? (TMS Requirements)
Who is not eligible for TMS therapy?
There are certain cases where a person should not undergo traditional or accelerated TMS therapy. You should avoid TMS and aTMS therapy if you:
- Have a history of neurological conditions, such as seizures or epilepsy
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Have a history of brain illness, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or strokes
- Are taking stimulant medications.
You should also avoid these therapies if you have non-removable metal objects in your head, such as:
- Deep brain stimulators
- Cochlear hearing implants
- Aneurysm clips or coils
- Stents in the neck, brain, or heart
- Electrodes
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments
- Vagus nerve stimulators.
TMS and aTMS involve delivering magnetic pulses to specific regions of your brain. These magnetic pulses can cause metal objects in your head to move or heat up, which can be dangerous. It is OK to do TMS if you have braces or dental fillings.
What are the side effects of TMS?
While TMS therapy is generally well-tolerated, some people experience mild to moderate side effects, including:
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Scalp or neck discomfort
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Slight tingling of facial muscles.
These side effects are usually short-lived and tend to subside on their own within a few hours. In most cases they disappear as your body adjusts to treatments.
Difference between TMS and accelerated TMS
The main difference between traditional TMS therapy and accelerated TMS is treatment duration and frequency.
Traditional TMS therapy is usually administered over 4 to 6 weeks, with sessions scheduled five times a week. Each session lasts around 15 to 20 minutes. TMS is a suitable option for those who are able to accommodate the time commitment and prefer a steady, paced experience with no rush to achieve results.
Accelerated TMS therapy condenses the entire treatment process into just two weeks, with sessions scheduled 3 to 5 times a day. Each session lasts around 9 minutes with a 45-minute break in between. This intense schedule offers quick results, making it ideal for those who can’t commit to an extended treatment timeline due to busy lifestyles or other obligations.
Both traditional and accelerated TMS treatments have impressive success rates, with patients experiencing significant relief from their symptoms. Both treatments have minimal side effects and are non-invasive, non-systemic, and completely painless.
See More: How TMS Helps Military Members & Dependents
Is accelerated TMS covered by insurance?
While traditional TMS is covered by most insurance plans for the treatment of major depression and treatment-resistant depression, this is not necessarily the case for aTMS. Insurance coverage for accelerated TMS can vary, and it’s important to check with your provider before scheduling sessions.
TMS vs accelerated TMS: Which is for me?
Choosing between TMS and aTMS really comes down to your personal needs and lifestyle. If you’re juggling a busy schedule, need to travel a long distance for treatment, or want quicker relief from your symptoms, the fast-paced nature of aTMS might be just what you need. On the other hand, if you prefer a more gradual approach and can fit regular sessions into your routine, traditional TMS could be a better fit.
Let’s break down the difference between each treatment once more:
- Accelerated TMS: This option is ideal if you want rapid results and are ready to commit to a more intensive – but shorter – treatment plan. aTMS involves multiple sessions per day over just two weeks. While this approach might seem intense, the promise of quick relief can make it appealing if you’re juggling a busy schedule or want to improve your mental health quickly.
- Traditional TMS: If you’d prefer a less demanding treatment plan, traditional TMS might be for you. This approach involves regular sessions administered five days a week for about 4 to 6 weeks. It offers a more steady, gradual pace towards symptom relief, making it suitable for those who can manage the time commitment and prefer a slower pace of treatment.
Summary: Accelerated TMS vs traditional TMS
Deciding between TMS and aTMS is a personal choice best made in collaboration with your mental healthcare provider. Finding the best option for you involves weighing up several factors, from your unique health journey to your treatment history and current lifestyle demands. Both therapies have been shown effective in treating mental health conditions, but each suits different needs and preferences.
Ultimately, we want you to find an effective treatment that improves your mental well-being while fitting into your life. If you’re considering TMS or aTMS and want to explore your options further, feel free to contact us at BestMind Behavioral Health. Our friendly team will happily support you in making the best choice for your personal needs and lifestyle.
