FDA-cleared TMS therapy at our Pleasant Hill clinic. For adults with major depression or OCD who haven't responded to medication — or who can't tolerate antidepressant side effects.
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. It's FDA-cleared for major depressive disorder, OCD, and several other conditions — and unlike medication, it has no systemic side effects (no weight gain, no sexual dysfunction, no GI issues).
TMS is typically a course of 30–36 sessions, 5 days a week for 6–8 weeks. Each session is about 19–37 minutes (depending on the protocol). You're awake, alert, and can drive yourself home immediately after.
Universal Medical Group offers TMS at our Pleasant Hill clinic. If antidepressants haven't worked, or you can't tolerate the side effects, TMS is often the next step before considering Spravato.
Adult MDD with inadequate response to at least one prior antidepressant trial at adequate dose and duration.
FDA-cleared deep TMS protocols for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Major depression with prominent anxiety features — often the patients who do best with TMS.
Patients who can't tolerate antidepressant side effects (weight gain, sexual dysfunction, fatigue) often do well with TMS.
TMS is contraindicated in patients with non-removable ferromagnetic metal in or near the head (e.g., aneurysm clips, cochlear implants). History of seizure or significantly elevated seizure risk requires careful evaluation. We screen all candidates thoroughly before starting.
First visit (~90 min) reviews history, prior treatments, and confirms TMS is the right step. We then perform a "motor threshold" — calibrating the TMS device to your specific brain anatomy.
We submit prior auth. Most insurance covers TMS for MDD if you've tried at least one (sometimes two) antidepressants without adequate response.
You'll come to our Pleasant Hill clinic each weekday for ~20–37 minutes. You sit in a comfortable chair, the device is positioned over your scalp, and the session begins. You can read, listen to music, or chat. No anesthesia, no recovery time.
We measure mood weekly using validated scales (PHQ-9, etc.). Most patients begin to feel meaningful improvement around weeks 3–4.
Many patients have lasting benefit after a single course. Some benefit from periodic maintenance sessions or a re-treatment course later if symptoms return.
TMS has one of the cleanest side effect profiles of any depression treatment. There's no impact on memory, cognition, or alertness.
Common side effects (usually mild, short-lived): mild scalp discomfort or tapping sensation during the session, transient headache after sessions (usually responds to over-the-counter medication), facial twitching during stimulation. Side effects typically fade after the first 1–2 weeks of treatment.
Rare but serious: seizure (estimated risk < 0.1% per course; lower with proper screening). We screen for seizure risk factors before starting.
All TMS treatments are administered at:
91 Gregory Lane, Suite 20
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Contra Costa County
Patients commute from across the East Bay (Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette, Orinda, Martinez), and our schedule accommodates early-morning and end-of-day slots so most people don't need to take time off work.
No. You'll feel a tapping sensation on your scalp during stimulation. It can be mildly uncomfortable in the first few sessions, but most patients adjust quickly.
TMS does not require anesthesia, does not cause seizures, has no memory side effects, and you drive yourself to and from sessions. ECT is a separate, more intensive treatment used for severe cases.
Most responders notice improvement around weeks 3–4. Roughly 50–60% of patients with treatment-resistant depression respond meaningfully, with about a third achieving full remission.
Usually yes. We typically continue your current medication during the TMS course unless there's a specific reason to change it.
Most major insurance plans (and Medicare, in many cases) cover TMS for treatment-resistant MDD. We handle prior authorization. Coverage criteria vary by plan; we verify your specific benefits up front.
