The initial assessment (or consultation) will be used to evaluate the appropriateness of TMS Therapy in treating your depression. The TMS prescribing psychiatrist will use the assessment to determine a diagnosis and determine the risks and benefits of TMS compared to other available treatments for your diagnosis. Your TMS prescribing psychiatrist might also want to discuss the off-label treatments of TMS for symptoms such as bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and OCD.
The TMS prescribing psychiatrist will also want details about previous treatment for your depression including counseling history, names of medications, maximum dosage, duration of treatment, and reasons treatment was discontinued such as lack of benefit or side effects. You should be prepared to complete formal medical history evaluations and sign consent forms.
At the end of the assessment, the TMS prescribing psychiatrist will decide if you are a candidate for TMS Therapy. If TMS Therapy is right for you, the TMS prescribing psychiatrist will create a plan for your treatment. Your next appointment will be your first treatment of TMS and focus on Motor Threshold and Coil Placement.