Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Program

Upper East Side
1165 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065

Managing mental health often takes patience and multiple treatment attempts. When symptoms continue despite treatment, the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Program at Weill Cornell Medicine offers an additional safe, noninvasive option.

TMS uses focused magnetic pulses to modify the activity of brain areas thought to underlie mood dysregulation and other symptoms. It’s an innovative, proven approach for managing mental health symptoms when medication or psychotherapy are ineffective.

About the Program

At Weill Cornell Medicine, our TMS Program is overseen by recognized leaders in TMS. Our approach emphasizes a deep understanding of each individual we treat—your symptoms, medical history and the unique biological and psychosocial factors shaping your experience—so we can develop a truly personalized treatment plan.

Additionally, we engage in groundbreaking research. Over the years, we’ve participated in some of the largest TMS clinical trials. Our team is developing new TMS protocols and other technologies to personalize treatment and achieve better outcomes for every individual.

Conditions We Treat

The expert, compassionate team of psychiatrists at Weill Cornell Medicine helps manage several mental health issues through our TMS Program. These include:

Major depressive disorder. This issue causes ongoing feelings of sadness or depression, often despite your circumstances. You may lose interest in activities you once enjoyed, have trouble concentrating, lack energy and sleep poorly. In some cases, you may feel worthless and have suicidal thoughts.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is marked by obsessive thoughts that lead to compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing distress associated with those thoughts. For example, if your obsession includes a fear of germs or being harmed by others, it may lead to excessive handwashing or repeatedly checking to ensure doors are locked.
Smoking cessation. For adults with a nicotine dependence who have been unable to quit smoking, TMS can be a useful add-on treatment to reduce craving and help break the habit.

Our Services

Weill Cornell Medicine’s TMS Program provides advanced care for those struggling with major depression, OCD and nicotine dependence. Based on your needs and response to TMS, your team may adjust the following:

Length of treatment sessions
Number of treatment sessions
Strength of stimulation in each therapy session

If you require additional care, we refer you to a specialist within the Weill Cornell Medicine network of specialists.

Our Doctors

FAQ

What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

TMS is a noninvasive, FDA-cleared treatment for depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. TMS uses focused magnetic pulses to modify the activity of areas of the brain thought to underlie mood regulation, OCD symptoms, nicotine dependence and other symptoms.

Who can benefit from TMS treatment?

TMS is most commonly recommended for individuals with major depressive disorder who have not experienced an adequate response to antidepressant medications or psychotherapy.

In addition to difficult-to-treat depression, the FDA has granted regulatory approval for TMS treatment of several neuropsychiatric conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxious depression and nicotine dependence, among others.

Is TMS safe? What are common side effects of the treatment? What happens if I have a side effect?

TMS has an excellent safety profile and is generally very well-tolerated. The most common side effects are scalp discomfort or mild headache, both of which typically subside after a few sessions. Your psychiatrist will evaluate you carefully for side effects during treatment and can adjust treatment to reduce side effects as needed.

Serious side effects, including seizures, are rare for most patients. However, certain factors can increase this risk, including a history of seizures, substance use disorders and the use of certain medications. Prior to treatment, your TMS team at Weill Cornell Medicine will perform a careful diagnostic assessment, including an assessment of all risk factors, and discuss whether TMS is right for you.

Is TMS treatment covered by insurance?

Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare cover conventional TMS protocols for eligible patients. While eligibility criteria vary somewhat between plans, most insurers require the following:

Diagnosis of major depressive disorder in patients 18 or older
Inadequate treatment response to at least two trials with antidepressant medications during the current episode
No medical conditions that increase the risk of serious side effects (e.g., epilepsy)
Not currently experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis

What should I expect during TMS treatment?

TMS is a noninvasive treatment delivered in a medical office setting. During TMS treatment sessions, you remain seated in a reclined chair. A psychiatrist from our TMS team identifies the optimal target for TMS treatment coil placement and positions the coil adjacent to your scalp. The psychiatrist then determines the optimal TMS dose (strength of stimulation), and the TMS device delivers a series of magnetic pulses. These feel like a tapping sensation on the scalp.

How long is each treatment session?

Conventional TMS sessions last 20 or 40 minutes, depending on your needs. Newer FDA-cleared and off-label protocols involve sessions as short as three minutes, but they may not be covered by insurance.

How many times will I need TMS?

This can vary, but standard TMS protocols typically involve 30 to 36 daily treatment sessions, delivered over a period of six to eight weeks.