If you’re considering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for your mental health, you likely have questions about how long TMS results will last. It’s a common concern as investing in any treatment comes with the hope that improvements will stick around.
Fortunately, research consistently shows TMS can provide both immediate relief and lasting benefits. While individual experiences will vary, many patients maintain improvements for months or even years after completing treatment.
When Does TMS Start Working?
According to recent research on TMS, improvements can begin after just a few sessions. In fact, some patients report subtle changes in their mood, energy levels, or thought patterns as early as the first week of treatment. This early response can be encouraging for patients who may have spent months or years trying different medications without relief.
How Many Sessions of TMS Do You Need?
The standard TMS treatment protocol typically involves around 36 sessions administered over several weeks, but this can vary based on your specific needs and response to treatment. Recent clinical studies show that there is a direct correlation between the length of treatment and benefits gained from treatment:
- Patients receiving fewer than 20 sessions generally experienced less benefits
- Those receiving 20-29 sessions showed better responses, but still not optimal
- The best outcomes occurred in the group receiving 36 sessions
- Extended treatments beyond 36 sessions still provided benefits, but with declining returns
While 36 sessions seems to be the sweet spot for most patients, your doctor might recommend a shorter or longer course based on your situation and how you’re responding to treatment.
Most TMS providers schedule sessions five days a week (Monday through Friday), making it compatible with most work schedules. Each session typically lasts 20-40 minutes, depending on your treatment plan.
Signs TMS is Working
As you go through your TMS treatment, you may begin to notice subtle yet meaningful changes. These improvements often appear gradually, and sometimes friends or family members notice them before you do. Here are some signs that your TMS therapy is working for you:
- Improved mood and outlook with fewer instances of overwhelming sadness or worry
- Increased energy levels and motivation for everyday tasks
- Reduced anxiety and fewer physical symptoms of stress
- Improved concentration, focus, and decision-making skills
- More interest in social connections and improved relationships
Additionally, better sleep quality has been reported. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that TMS therapy directly improves sleep quality even when depression symptoms continue. This suggests that TMS may influence multiple brain systems at the same time.
What are the Benefits of TMS Therapy?
TMS offers both immediate symptom relief and long-lasting improvements for different mental health conditions. From rapid mood improvement to sustained brain changes that can improve quality of life, research continues to back up the benefits of TMS therapy.
Short-Term Benefits
It’s best to complete a full course of treatment to get the full benefit of TMS therapy; however, you may notice some improvements pretty quickly.
For example:
- Patients receiving accelerated TMS can experience improvements in depression symptoms in as little as one to two weeks.
- A multicenter randomized sham-controlled trial of deep TMS (dTMS) therapy for OCD showed a 38% response rate sustained for at least four weeks.
- Brain imaging studies show direct neural changes, with one study finding increases in neurochemical markers in the anterior cingulate cortex following dTMS. This area is often dysfunctional in those with mental health conditions.
Long-Term Benefits
Not only does TMS have positive effects in the short-term, but it also has long-term benefits. These include:
- TMS induces synaptic plasticity, which improves the connectivity and communication between different brain regions.
- Participants in one study showed substantial improvements in depression, anxiety, and cognitive function over 26 weeks with MRI-guided TMS.
- One study found that 90% of depression patients who responded to treatment maintained their improvement during a 6-month follow-up.
- For OCD, 86.7% of patients maintained benefits for 1 year or longer without treatment changes.
- 43.3% of OCD patients maintained benefits for 2 years or longer.
How to Maintain the Benefits of TMS
TMS is not a permanent cure for depression or other mental health conditions, but there are some strategies to extend and maintain the improvements you’ve gotten. Many patients can enjoy lasting benefits for months or even years after their initial treatment course.
Maintenance TMS Sessions
Scheduled maintenance sessions can significantly reduce relapse rates in patients with treatment-resistant depression who initially responded well to TMS. Here’s breakdown:
- Maintenance sessions involve returning for periodic TMS treatments after completing the initial course.
- These booster sessions help reinforce the positive brain changes established during your initial treatment.
- The frequency varies based on individual needs.
Research also shows that maintenance TMS is cost-effective compared to repeated acute treatment courses, as the total number of sessions needed over a 2-year period is comparable to what would be required for each new full course of treatment.
Lifestyle Changes
Besides maintenance sessions, some healthy habits can help you maintain the benefits of TMS therapy. Below are some tips to consider:
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule to support optimal brain function during treatment
- Engage in regular physical activity.
- Practice stress-reduction activities such as mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs that can interfere with mood regulation and sleep quality.
- Follow through with recommended psychotherapy, which can reinforce the cognitive benefits of TMS.
How to Optimize Your TMS Sessions
Whether this is your first round of treatment or maintenance, here’s how you can get the most from your TMS sessions:
- Stay on a regular schedule for your appointments as your brain learns best with consistency and repetition.
- Get plenty of rest before and after sessions as TMS can sometimes cause temporary drowsiness or fatigue.
- Communicate with your provider about any changes in symptoms or medication.
- Keep a mood journal to track your progress and identify any early warning signs of symptom return.
Schedule a TMS Consultation at Cura Behavioral Health
TMS therapy has helped many people find relief when medications and talk therapy weren’t enough. With its quick results, few side effects, and long-lasting benefits, TMS could be the answer you’re looking for.
If you’ve been struggling with depression or another mental health condition that won’t go away despite your best efforts, we’re here to help. At Cura Behavioral Health, our team will work with you to create a TMS treatment plan that fits your specific needs.
Ready to take a step toward feeling better? Call us today to schedule a consultation. We’ll walk you through how it works, answer your questions, and help you decide if it’s right for you.
Sources:
- Study finds possible early predictor of successful transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for major depression – UCLA Health
- Dosing transcranial magnetic stimulation in major depressive disorder: Relations between number of treatment sessions and effectiveness in a large patient registry – Brain Stimulation
- Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep quality and mood in patients with major depressive disorder – Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
- Short-term and long-term efficacy of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis – BMC Psychiatry
- Advancements in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Research and the Path to Precision – Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
- TMS Proves Long-Term Relief for Depression – Neuroscience News
- Long-term outcomes of a course of deep TMS for treatment-resistant OCD – Brain Stimulation
- Maintenance treatment of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression patients responding to acute TMS treatment – International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- Long-Term Preservation Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder – The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders
