Accelerated TMS is a faster, more intensive version of transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy (TMS therapy), which has recently been FDA-approved for treating depression in teens aged 15 and above. This promising treatment offers quick, significant improvements in depressive symptoms without the side effects of medications or other therapies like ECT.
With rising rates of depression and anxiety amongst young people, the need for effective and accessible treatments has never been more essential. If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, aTMS may offer the relief you need. In this article, we explore accelerated TMS for teens and young adults, including how it works, aTMS vs traditional TMS, and the effectiveness of aTMS in treating depression symptoms.
Understanding teen mental health
Teen depression is on the rise, and other mental health issues – such as anxiety – are also becoming increasingly prevalent. This period of life is marked by physical changes, social media pressures, and academic stress – all of which add up to make young people feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed.
What was considered normal ‘teenage angst’ has evolved into a mental health crisis, with the Mental Health Association (MHA) reporting that 11.5% of teens in the United States suffer from severe depression. Since 2009, the number of teens experiencing major depressive episodes has more than doubled, and the American Psychological Association (APA) reports a 64.7% increase in adolescent suicide rates during the period between 2000 and 2021.
Recognizing the symptoms of adolescent depression is key to early intervention and treatment. Signs of depression in teens include persistent sadness, low energy, lack of interest in activities, and withdrawing from friends and social activities. For many teens, these struggles can lead to declining academic performance, substance abuse, and strained relationships.
For some teens, traditional treatments like antidepressants or therapy are enough to alleviate symptoms, but for many young people, these solutions aren’t enough. With an increasing number of teens facing mental health challenges that continue into adulthood, finding reliable and effective treatments becomes essential. This is where TMS comes in.
Read More: Depression in Adolescence: Key Factors and Strategies for Helping Teens Cope
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is an innovative treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. It has recently been FDA-approved for treating depression in teens aged 15 and older. As a non-invasive, non-systemic therapy, TMS provides an alternative treatment for those who haven’t responded well to antidepressants or traditional therapy, also known as treatment-resistant depression.
TMS works by using targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the brain involved in mood regulation. These pulses activate nerve cells that play a role in depressive symptoms, helping to rebalance brain activity and improve emotional well-being over time. The therapy is both safe and painless, and there’s no need for anesthesia or recovery time. With each session lasting around 20 to 30 minutes, patients are free to return to their daily activities immediately.
For teens, TMS therapy offers a promising alternative to medication-based treatments, especially for those who experience side effects or haven’t found relief through medication. The treatment has emerged as a much-needed option for young people battling depression, offering hope when other treatments fall short.
Note: TMS is sometimes also called repetitive TMS (rTMS), because it involves repetitive pulses that gently stimulate the brain.
Keep Reading: Parent’s Guide to Helping Teens With Depression
History of TMS therapy
TMS was first FDA-approved for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in 2008. Since then, it has gained widespread recognition for its ability to effectively treat depression. In 2010, the treatment was endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in its Practice Guidelines, making it a widely-accepted treatment for those with treatment-resistant depression.
Today, TMS therapy is FDA-approved for a variety of mental health conditions, including MDD in adults and teens aged 15 and up, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines, and even quitting smoking. The treatment is also used off-label for other conditions, including fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How does TMS work?
TMS therapy works by delivering magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, particularly the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which is known to be underactive in people with depression. These pulses activate nerve cells in the region, helping to restore normal brain function and reduce depressive symptoms. Over time, the stimulation can rebalance neural circuits, leading to improved mood, energy levels, and overall mental well-being.
Unlike medication, which affects the whole body, TMS is non-invasive and targeted, focusing directly on the brain. This makes it a great option for those who haven’t responded to other treatments or experience unwanted side effects from antidepressants. Since no sedation or anesthesia is needed, TMS is a relatively low-risk treatment with minimal side effects. The few side effects that do occur, such as mild headaches or scalp discomfort, tend to resolve on their own and disappear after the first few sessions.
What to expect during a TMS session
Here’s what you can expect from a typical TMS session:
- Preparation: You’ll be seated in a comfortable chair and a specialized cap (or coil) will be placed against your scalp. This delivers the magnetic pulses to the targeted region of your brain. There’s no need for anesthesia in this treatment, so you’ll be awake and alert throughout the entire process. Don’t worry – it’s painless!
- Stimulation: Your TMS technician will send brief, repetitive magnetic pulses through the coil to stimulate the brain. You might feel a light tapping sensation on your scalp or hear clicking sounds during the session. Some people also feel slight tingling or twitching.
- Session length: Each session lasts about 20 minutes, and afterwards, you can return to school, work, or home and continue your day as usual. There’s no downtime needed and you’ll be good to go immediately after the session.
- Treatment schedule: TMS therapy usually involves one session per day, five days a week, for four to six weeks. Some people notice improvements after just a few sessions but full benefits are usually noticed as the treatment progresses.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About OCD in Kids and Teens
What is accelerated TMS?
Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) is a faster, more intensive version of TMS therapy. It follows the same principles – using magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the brain responsible for mood regulation – but condenses the treatment schedule for quicker results. Instead of spreading sessions over four to six weeks, aTMS delivers multiple sessions per day, allowing the entire course of treatment to be completed in about one to two weeks.
While both forms of TMS are effective, aTMS can be especially helpful for teens and young adults looking for quick symptom relief, needing to travel long distances for treatment, or unable to commit to the time requirements of traditional TMS. The good news is that research suggests aTMS can be just as effective as traditional TMS, offering similar improvements in mood and symptoms in just a fraction of the time – more on this later.
What to expect during an aTMS session
The experience of aTMS is very similar to traditional TMS, but with a few differences due to the faster pace of treatment. Here’s what to expect from an aTMS session:
- Preparation: Just like with traditional TMS, you’ll sit comfortably in a chair and a coil will be placed on your scalp to deliver the magnetic pulses. No anesthesia is needed, and you’ll be awake and alert during the session.
- Stimulation: Each aTMS session involves short bursts of magnetic pulses that target the same brain regions as traditional TMS. These pulses stimulate neural activity in parts of the brain that regulate mood. You might feel a light tapping on your scalp, as with TMS, but the procedure is painless.
- Session length: The main difference with aTMS is that you’ll undergo multiple treatment sessions per day, usually about 3 to 5, with breaks in between. Sessions typically last about 9 minutes with a 45-minute break. During the break, you’re free to do anything you like, whether it’s reading, studying, or listening to music.
- Treatment schedule: aTMS treatments are usually delivered over just two weeks, offering a more intensive schedule compared to TMS.
See: Is TMS Appropriate for Treating Adolescents With Depression?
Benefits of aTMS for teens and young adults
aTMS offers numerous benefits for teens and young adults struggling with depression, especially those who haven’t responded well to traditional treatments. These include:
Speed
Unlike traditional TMS, which takes several weeks, aTMS delivers the same effective treatment in just two weeks. This faster timeline can make a huge difference for teens and young adults who need immediate relief. With its condensed schedule, aTMS means teens can start feeling like themselves again much sooner.
Fewer side effects
aTMS has fewer side effects compared to antidepressant medications and treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Medications can cause a range of side effects, from weight gain to sleep disturbances, and ECT can cause short-term memory loss or confusion. aTMS, on the other hand, is far less disruptive.
Most patients report only mild discomfort, with side effects including slight headaches, neck and scalp discomfort, tingling or twitching of facial muscles, and tiredness or fatigue. These are mostly short-lived and resolve on their own within a few hours. After a number of sessions, side effects usually disappear completely.
More gentle than ECT
For teens and young adults, aTMS offers a more gentle alternative to ECT. While ECT involves inducing seizures to ‘reset’ the brain, aTMS uses targeted magnetic pulses to simulate mood-regulating areas without causing a full-body response. Unlike ECT, aTMS therapy also does not require anesthesia and has a lower risk of side effects. This makes the treatment not only safer, but also less intimidating for younger patients and their families.
Long-lasting results
Despite its intensive nature, aTMS offers long-lasting results. One open-label study investigating TMS therapy in adolescents showed a promising 44% remission rate amongst participants aged 13 to 21 years old. Since aTMS helps rewire the brain’s activity, it can provide teens and young adults with a stronger foundation for long-term mental well-being.
Continue Reading: Who Qualifies for TMS Therapy? (TMS Requirements)
Does TMS therapy work?
For anyone considering TMS or aTMS – either for themselves or a loved one – the big question is whether it will work for you. To answer that question, let’s dive into some research into the efficacy of TMS and aTMS therapy.
In 2019, Stanford University published a study on 21 adolescents, aged 13 to 21, with treatment-resistant depression. The study found that accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), a form of aTMS, was well-tolerated and led to significant improvements in depressive symptoms.
In another pilot study, 55% of patients achieved remission within the first week of aTMS, with the remission rate rising to 70% as treatment continued. Another 55% of those, who didn’t fully experience remission, saw at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms.
A third study into aTMS showed an 80% response rate amongst patients, with more than half achieving remission after just one treatment cycle. Some patients even reported significant improvements by the second day of treatment.
Other studies from institutions like the American Journal of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Minnesota all confirm the high remission rates of aTMS in adolescents. These results are all so encouraging in showing the effectiveness of aTMS as a treatment option for teens and young adults with depression.
As well as treating depression, there has been a study exploring the potential of aTMS for treating adolescent anxiety. The first phase of the study showed that anxiety levels in teens were significantly reduced after aTMS, with half the participants feeling better after just 10 days of treatment. The study also noted improvements in depression and suicidal ideation, making aTMS a promising treatment option for numerous mental health conditions.
Summary: Accelerated TMS for teens and young adults
aTMS is a promising and effective treatment for teens and young adults with depression. With its quick results, non-invasive nature, and minimal side effects, aTMS not only relieves symptoms but helps young people reclaim their lives and continue into adulthood with a better sense of well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and hasn’t found relief through traditional methods, aTMS may be a valuable treatment for you. We offer aTMS and TMS therapies at our clinics in Oregon and Colorado, with a compassionate team ready to support you on your journey to better mental health. Contact us today to learn more about aTMS or discuss other treatment options.
