The Service

Sheppard Pratt Health System is proud to be one of the first sites in the country offering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy to treat depression. NeuroStar TMS Therapy® was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients suffering from depression who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication. Sheppard Pratt was one of twenty research sites participating in the clinical trial on TMS. NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is administered in Sheppard Pratt's Retreat program on the Towson campus by specially credentialed psychiatrists and nurses.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy® treatments can be administered to residents of The Retreat program, or to outpatients. Outside psychiatrists referring patients for TMS therapy will continue to be involved in their care during and after TMS therapy. The Sheppard Pratt treating psychiatrist is available to the referrer and the patient to discuss any questions about NeuroStar TMS Therapy® which may arise.

Patient Population

NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from an adequate course of antidepressant medication.

The Procedure

During NeuroStar TMS Therapy®, magnetic field pulses are generated and aimed an area of the brain that has been demonstrated to function abnormally in patients with depression and mood regulation. This magnetic field is the same type and strength as those produced by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.

The pulses of magnetic fields move into the brain and produce small electrical currents. These electrical currents physiologically activate brain cells. The amount of electricity created is very small and cannot be felt by the patient, but the electric charges cause the neurons to become active and are thought to lead to the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinepherine and dopamine.

The standard treatment is a 40-minute outpatient procedure that is performed under the supervision of a psychiatrist. It does not require anesthesia or sedation, and patients remain awake and alert during the procedure.

The number of treatments recommended is based on the individual patient's need and response to the treatment. For most patients, treatment is administered daily for four to six weeks (20-30 treatments).

Common Side Effects

In clinical trials, approximately 1 out of 2 patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy® experienced significant improvement in depression symptoms without experiencing side effects such as weight gain, sexual problems, nausea, insomnia, sleepiness, dry mouth or memory impairments. The most commonly reported side effect related to treatment was scalp pain or discomfort during the treatment session. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment.

To learn more about accessing this service you may contact 410-938-3737, or click here

  Return to Top

Click on the map for more information 6501 N. Charles St. Baltimore, Maryland 21285

CLICK HERE FOR CAMPUS MAP

Directions: Sheppard Pratt is inside the Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695) off of Exit 25. After you are on the ramp for Exit 25, follow the signs for Charles Street. Proceed south on Charles Street approximately 2.5 miles. At the sign, turn left into the Sheppard Pratt campus. Continue on Gatehouse Drive and make a right at the stop sign to the parking lot of the Weinberg Building. You may enter through the Weinberg Building and receive directions to The Retreat from the receptionist in the front lobby, or by contacting Ext. 3737 from the house phone at the reception desk.   Return to Top