TMS Therapy for Depression in Greenwood Village
Quick Answer
TMS is an FDA-cleared, non-medication treatment for adults with major depressive disorder who have not gotten adequate relief from antidepressants. At Bluebird TMS every course is prescribed and overseen by a psychiatrist, sessions are done awake with no sedation, and most patients continue working throughout treatment.
What TMS is
A magnetic coil placed against the scalp delivers repeated pulses to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region involved in mood regulation. The pulses pass through the skull without surgery, implants, or medication. TMS has been FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder since 2008 and is covered by most insurance plans when their criteria are met.
Who it is for
Adults with major depressive disorder who have tried antidepressant medication without adequate improvement or who cannot tolerate side effects. Metal implants in or near the head, a history of seizures, and certain other conditions require careful review; your psychiatrist screens for these at the evaluation.
What treatment looks like
- Psychiatrist evaluation with a standardized symptom score.
- Insurance benefits verification and prior authorization by our team.
- Motor-threshold mapping on day one.
- Daily weekday sessions over several weeks, roughly 20 to 40 minutes each depending on protocol.
- Ongoing symptom tracking; improvement, when it comes, is usually gradual.
Side effects
Scalp discomfort at the treatment site and headache are most common and tend to lessen in the first week. Serious side effects are rare; the risk of seizure is very low and is part of informed consent.
After TMS
Maintenance looks different for different people — continued medication, follow-up visits, or additional sessions later. Your psychiatrist will map it out with you.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room.