TMS is the original technology; dTMS stands for Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a more advanced and targeted way of non-invasively reaching the areas within the brain where thoughts and emotions originate. Here at Curated, we specialize in the most cutting-edge, patented technology, which is dTMS.

dTMS uses a powerful magnet to alter the way neurons fire in the brain. Before this technology existed, changes to how a person’s brain fired was only achievable through surgical manipulation. The dTMS magnet acts similar to the rubber mallet used on your knee to test your reflexes; with a tap from the mallet, or in this case, the magnet, a neuron reflexively fires. With repeated magnetic stimulation, we noninvasively teach neurons in specific parts of the brain to fire in a different way. Changing how our neurons fire can change how we think and how we feel.

dTMS is classified by the FDA as a minimal-risk procedure. Most of the potential side effects are minor. Reported effects include temporary headache, fatigue, or neck stiffness (from wearing the helmet). Typically, these decrease as the body adjusts. The only documented long-term side effect is hearing loss—but that’s only a risk if you decide not to wear earplugs (which we provide for you).

A documented but rare side effect (one out of every 30,000 high-energy treatments) is induced seizure. While this is scary, the chance of it happening at all is extremely small, and all recorded incidents have been brief without lasting effects to the patient. We have a specific safety protocol at Curated to mitigate the seizure risk by taking brain measurements prior to every session. Most clinics only take these measurements once a week, and while it may add slightly more time onto your session, our data supports it as a successful preventative measure. Because of this practice, we deliver the precise amount of power that your brain needs on that day, and not a single Hz more.

No. Think of dTMS like a weight-lifting regimen at the gym. Lifting weights will make your muscles bigger and stronger while you’re on the regimen and for a period of time after. But just like lifting weights doesn’t permanently change your muscles, dTMS doesn’t permanently change your brain.

While you are seated, a helmet containing a large magnet is placed on your head. If you think of the hair-dryer chair in a salon, the dTMS chair and helmet look very much like this!  A technician will be nearby, controlling the degree of stimulation and monitoring real-time data transmitting directly from your brain to precisely target the neurons we want to fire. While the dTMS magnet is similar to those in an MRI machine, dTMS is administered solely through the helmet, targeting only the brain.

Typically, the standard treatment for depression is 36 sessions. The standard for OCD is 29 sessions. However, this number may vary. For example, if you are a candidate for the Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) protocol for treatment-resistant depression, the standard is 50 treatments. As we gather more and more research, it’s apparent that more sessions can be efficacious. If remission isn’t achieved after the standard number of sessions, remission can sometimes be achieved with additional sessions.

The schedule of sessions can vary, but typically the standard protocol is once a day, five days a week, for four to six weeks, with a tapering of visits after that. The accelerated protocol administers the entire treatment in one week (usually about 8-10 sessions per day, with breaks between each).