TMS vs. Traditional Treatments: When to Consider Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Content Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Robbie Westerman, DNP-PMHNP – Chief Medical Officer

When depression symptoms continue after medication or therapy, it can feel incredibly frustrating to keep trying the same approach without finding relief.

Traditional depression treatments help many people, but they do not work the same way for everyone. Some patients continue to struggle with depressive symptoms, while others experience side effects from antidepressant medications that make treatment difficult to maintain.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often called TMS therapy, may offer another option for adults with major depressive disorder, especially when depression has not improved with conventional treatments. TMS is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions involved in mood regulation. It does not require surgery, sedation, or daily medication as part of the procedure.

At Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness, we help patients compare TMS vs traditional treatments so they can better understand their options and decide what may fit their needs with guidance from a mental health professional.

If traditional treatments have fallen short, you do not have to navigate the recovery process alone. Call our team today at (480) 631-9623 to speak with a care coordinator, or easily verify your benefits online through our secure insurance verification form.

• TMS therapy is a noninvasive treatment option for adults with major depressive disorder.
• Traditional treatments, including antidepressant medications and talk therapy, remain helpful for many patients.
• TMS treatment may be considered when multiple medications or therapies have not provided enough symptom relief.
• TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in brain regions connected to mood control.
• Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness provides personalized TMS therapy in Phoenix with clinical screening, treatment planning, and ongoing support.

Traditional depression treatments often begin with talk therapy, antidepressant medications, or both. These evidence-based treatments are usually the first step for people with mild, moderate, or severe depression.

Common treatment options may include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs
• Other antidepressant medications
• Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT
• Other forms of psychotherapy
• Psychiatric medication management
• Lifestyle changes and support systems
• Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, for certain cases of severe depression

For many patients, these options successfully reduce symptoms and support long-term mental health. However, managing clinical depression is rarely a straight line. Some individuals must navigate several pharmaceutical trials before finding a prescription that helps, while others experience medication side effects such as weight gain, fatigue, nausea, sleep changes, or sexual dysfunction.

When symptoms persist despite multiple intervention attempts, the condition is clinically recognized as treatment-resistant depression. Rather than continuing a cycle of changing prescriptions, TMS for depression may offer an evidence-based path that works differently from medication by targeting brain regions involved in mood regulation. This transition aligns with the official American Psychiatric Association position statement, which supports the clinical efficacy of TMS for individuals who have not found relief through standard pharmaceutical approaches.

Regulated clinically as an advanced class of brain stimulation therapies, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses an electromagnetic coil placed gently against the scalp. During a session, this coil delivers brief, highly targeted magnetic pulses designed to safely stimulate nerve cells in brain regions responsible for mood baseline control.

Unlike antidepressant medications, TMS does not circulate throughout the body. Instead, it focuses stimulation entirely on localized networks that are typically underactive in individuals suffering from severe depressive states. Mayo Clinic describes TMS as a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to help improve symptoms of major depression. Because TMS targets specific brain areas rather than affecting the whole body, it works differently from medication.

TMS is also different from electroconvulsive therapy ECT. ECT requires anesthesia and produces a controlled seizure under medical supervision. TMS does not require anesthesia, does not involve a seizure as part of treatment, and patients can usually return to normal activities after each appointment.

Some patients receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, also called rTMS therapy. Depending on your needs, other clinical protocols may include intermittent theta burst stimulation, which utilizes a shorter, accelerated session cycle. The final customized plan depends entirely on a patient’s diagnosis, medical history, and clinical evaluation.

TMS and traditional therapies do not always compete with each other. For some patients, TMS may be part of a broader treatment plan that also includes therapy, psychiatry services, or medication management.

TMS may be worth considering when depression symptoms continue despite traditional depression treatments. You may be a candidate for TMS therapy if you:

• Have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder
• Have tried multiple medications without enough improvement
• Have had difficult side effects from antidepressant medications
• Have participated in talk therapy, but still experience significant symptoms
• Prefer a non-drug treatment option
• Want a noninvasive treatment that does not require anesthesia
• Seek another evidence-based treatment option for treatment-resistant depression

The right treatment depends on several factors, including your diagnosis, symptom severity, past treatment response, medical history, and personal goals. A professional evaluation is important before starting TMS, especially if you have a history of seizures, traumatic brain injury, metal implants near the head, cochlear implants, or other medical considerations.

A TMS session is performed in a clinical setting while you are awake and seated. A provider positions the magnetic coil near the scalp so the treatment can target specific brain regions. During treatment, you may hear clicking sounds and feel tapping sensations on the scalp.

Most patients do not need downtime after treatment. You can usually drive yourself home and return to your normal routine after the appointment.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, TMS is a noninvasive treatment that does not require surgery or sedation and is generally well tolerated. When side effects occur, they are typically mild, temporary, and limited to the treatment area, including:

• Mild, temporary scalp discomfort
• Light headaches during or immediately following treatment
• Brief tingling or tapping sensations on the scalp
• Temporary, minor facial muscle twitching during active stimulation

These effects are generally mild and often improve after the first few sessions. Serious side effects, such as seizures, are rare, but screening is still important to determine whether TMS is appropriate.

TMS serves as a specialized, targeted alternative rather than a direct replacement for traditional modalities. For many people, conventional treatments are highly effective and remain a foundational part of care. However, for individuals living with treatment-resistant depression, TMS offers a distinct clinical path forward precisely because it addresses the root neural pathways that standard treatments may have missed.

The benefit of TMS is that it works differently from medication. Instead of affecting the whole body, TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity in targeted areas related to mood control. This may be helpful for people who have not responded well to antidepressant medications or who have struggled with medication side effects.

A mental health professional can help you compare TMS therapy, medication, and other treatments based on your symptoms and treatment history.

At Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness, TMS care begins with a clinical assessment. We review your depression symptoms, past treatment sessions, medication history, medical background, and goals for care.

Our TMS treatment approach may include:

• Psychiatric and medical evaluation
• Review of past medication and therapy response
• Screening for safety considerations, including metal implants or seizure risk
• Personalized TMS protocol planning
• Ongoing symptom tracking throughout treatment
• Coordination with other mental health services when appropriate
• Post-treatment planning and next-step recommendations

Because Camelback offers integrated mental health care, patients may also have access to psychiatry, medication-assisted treatment, outpatient mental health support, and other services based on their needs.

TMS therapy may offer several benefits for patients seeking another option for treating depression:

• Noninvasive treatment with no surgery required
• No anesthesia or sedation
• No daily medication is required for the TMS procedure itself
• Targeted stimulation of brain regions involved in mood regulation
• Side effects are generally mild for many patients
• No required recovery time after most sessions
• Personalized treatment planning in Phoenix
• Support from a team that understands whole-person mental health care

For patients who have felt stuck after trying multiple medications or traditional therapies, TMS can offer a different way to approach depression treatment.

TMS may be a good fit if you have major depressive disorder and have not found relief through conventional treatments. It may also be helpful if medication side effects have made it difficult to stay consistent with treatment.

However, TMS is not right for everyone. Patients with certain metal implants, cochlear implants, a seizure history, or other medical risks may need additional evaluation before moving forward.

The best next step is to speak with a qualified provider. At Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness, we can review your medical history, discuss your treatment options, and help determine whether TMS therapy in Phoenix may be appropriate for your needs.

If depression symptoms have continued despite medication, therapy, or other treatments, you do not have to keep navigating the process alone. TMS therapy may offer a noninvasive option for treatment-resistant depression.

At Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness in Phoenix, we help patients explore care options with compassion, clarity, and clinical guidance.

Call (480) 631-9623 or contact us today to learn whether TMS therapy may be right for you.

• American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). Position statement on transcranial magnetic stimulation. https://www.psychiatry.org/about-apa/policy-finder/position-statement-on-transcranial-magnetic-stimul
• Cleveland Clinic. (2026). TMS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17827-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-tms
• Mayo Clinic. (2023). Transcranial magnetic stimulation. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625
• National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Brain stimulation therapies. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). 510(k) premarket notification: NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System (Submission No. K231926). Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf23/K231926.pdf