If you’ve been looking into TMS for depression, you may have come across two very different treatment schedules. Traditional TMS is usually completed through weekday appointments over several weeks. Newer approaches can condense treatment into a much shorter period, including a one-day format.
At Deep Centered Mental Health, we offer both approaches. Our standard TMS program uses BrainsWay Deep TMS technology, while our One-Day TMS program uses the Ampa One system and delivers multiple treatment sessions during a single visit.
That difference can matter considerably if you’re trying to fit treatment around work, family, travel or other responsibilities. There are also differences in insurance coverage, technology and the amount of clinical history behind each approach.
What Is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation.
TMS is often considered for depression when antidepressant medication hasn’t provided enough improvement or side effects have made medication difficult to tolerate. Treatment does not require anesthesia or sedation, and patients can return to their normal activities afterward.
Both standard TMS and One-Day TMS are based on this same underlying approach. One of the key differences is how treatment is delivered.
What Is Traditional TMS?
Traditional TMS refers to the standard multi-week treatment schedule, with appointments typically scheduled five days a week for several weeks.
At Deep Centered Mental Health, our standard program uses BrainsWay Deep TMS technology. Deep TMS uses a specialized coil designed to stimulate broader and deeper areas of the brain than traditional figure-8 TMS coils.
The main consideration with the standard schedule is the time commitment. Even though individual appointments are relatively short, getting to a clinic every weekday for several weeks can be difficult when balancing work, family responsibilities or travel.
What Is One-Day TMS?
One-Day TMS changes the treatment schedule considerably.
At Deep Centered Mental Health, One-Day TMS uses the Ampa One system and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). Instead of spreading treatment across several weeks, multiple sessions are completed during a single visit, with scheduled breaks between them.
You arrive in the morning, complete a series of treatment sessions throughout the day and return home afterward.
For patients who find the logistics of daily appointments difficult, the one-day format can remove a major barrier to pursuing TMS. Patients traveling from another part of Texas, for example, can complete the treatment schedule in a single day rather than making repeated trips to a TMS clinic.
One-Day TMS vs. Traditional TMS: What’s the Difference?
Although both are forms of TMS, the experience of going through treatment is quite different.
Standard Multi-Week TMS
- Delivered over several weeks
- Appointments are typically scheduled on weekdays
- Deep Centered uses BrainsWay Deep TMS technology
- Covered by most major insurance plans when eligibility requirements are met
- Supported by a longer history of clinical use and research
One-Day TMS
- Treatment is completed during a single visit
- Multiple sessions are spaced throughout the day
- Deep Centered uses the Ampa One system
- Uses a newer condensed treatment format
- Currently offered on a self-pay basis
Why Would Someone Choose Standard TMS?
Standard TMS offers an established treatment schedule with an extensive body of research behind it.
At Deep Centered, standard treatment also means receiving Deep TMS using BrainsWay technology rather than conventional figure-8 TMS.
The multi-week schedule can work well when regular weekday appointments are manageable. Insurance coverage can also make standard TMS the more practical option for patients who meet their plan’s eligibility requirements.
Why Would Someone Consider One-Day TMS?
At Deep Centered, the conversation about One-Day TMS often starts with a practical question: Is a standard multi-week course of TMS realistic for your life?
Daily appointments can be difficult when you work full time, care for children or family members, live far from a TMS provider or would need to travel for treatment.
One-Day TMS removes that multi-week scheduling commitment. It may also be worth discussing if you have previously responded to TMS but would prefer a condensed schedule rather than returning for another course of daily appointments.
There are tradeoffs. One-Day TMS is a newer treatment format and does not have the same length of clinical history as standard TMS. It is also self-pay rather than covered by insurance.
For some patients, completing treatment in a single day makes those tradeoffs worthwhile. Others may place greater importance on insurance coverage or the longer clinical track record behind standard TMS.
Is One-Day TMS as Effective as Traditional TMS?
Research into condensed TMS schedules has been encouraging, and One-Day TMS can offer outcomes comparable to traditional TMS for many patients. At the same time, condensed protocols are newer and have not been studied for as long as standard multi-week TMS.
That difference in evidence matters. We don’t think patients should be told that the two approaches are interchangeable or that everyone should expect the same result from either one.
Your history with depression and treatments you have already tried can help inform which approach is appropriate to consider.
Is TMS Covered by Insurance?
Insurance is one of the clearest differences between the two options at Deep Centered.
Standard TMS is covered by most major insurance plans for patients who meet their plan’s criteria. Our team can review your benefits and authorization requirements before treatment begins.
One-Day TMS is currently self-pay and generally is not covered by insurance.
Standard TMS allows eligible patients to use their insurance benefits, while the one-day format avoids the time and travel involved in weeks of clinic visits.
Which Type of TMS Makes Sense for You?
Your treatment history is an important part of the decision. During a TMS consultation, we’ll look at your experience with depression, including medications and other treatments you’ve already tried, and talk through which TMS approach may be appropriate.
The practical side matters too. If both options are clinically appropriate, we can help you compare the treatment schedules and insurance considerations so you understand what each would involve before deciding how to proceed.
Standard and One-Day TMS in Texas
Deep Centered Mental Health offers TMS treatment at locations in Austin, Round Rock, Houston and Dallas, with consultations available to adults across Texas.
Because we offer both standard TMS and One-Day TMS, you don’t need to choose between them before contacting us. We can explain how each approach works and review which options may be appropriate based on your treatment history and circumstances.
Learn more about our standard TMS program or explore One-Day TMS at Deep Centered Mental Health.
