Best Mental Health Service In California for Treatments of ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and Bipolar Disorder

TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION

NON-INVASIVE, DRUG FREE, FDA APPROVED TREATMENT

Insight Choices TMS Therapy in West Hollywood and Hollywood.

Insight Choices has set itself apart as a trailblazing TMS provider in West Hollywood and Hollywood, leading the way in outpatient depression treatment with the use of FDA-approved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) technology. Having successfully administered over 500 treatments, we take immense pride in our dedication to compassionate care, always placing the well-being of our patients at the forefront of our mission.

TMS Therapy

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a treatment modality that uses magnetic waves to stimulate and excite molecules inside brain cells in order to activate improved cell functioning. Magnetic therapy has been around for a long time. Only within the past 15 years has magnetic therapy been used on the brain to treat mental disorders in the United States. The FDA cleared the treatment of depression with this modality in 2008. The health insurance companies cover the treatment of depression and OCD using this treatment modality. Outside of the United States, it’s been used to treat many other conditions including anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Looking at a brain scan (PET scan) of a depressed person (on your right), the brain’s color is mostly blue which means the brain cells are not active. A non-depressed brain (on your left) has a lot of yellow and orange colors, which means the brain cells are firing up and active. TMS treatment in West Hollywood and Hollywood stimulates the brain and causes the brain cells to become active again.

Each TMS session takes less than an hour. A complete course of TMS treatment is around 6 to 8 weeks. During the first 4 to 6 weeks, you will come in daily for treatment, 5 days a week. Afterwards, the treatment session will be tapered based on your response. At the first TMS session, we will find the location where the brain needs to be stimulated by the electromagnet. Subsequently, your brain will be stimulated at that location every time you come in. You’re comfortably seated during the entire session. There is no anesthesia, incision, or blood draw involved. You will be awake and can converse during the entire session. After the session, you can perform any activity without restriction. Patients come in before, during, or after their work schedule and function without interference after the session. 

To be eligible for TMS there are some requirements to fulfill:

  • Have you taken more than 4 different types of anti-depressant medication?

  • Have you tried talk therapy and have not found it to be as effective anymore?

  • Have medications failed to provide adequate benefit for your depression?

  • Do the side effects from your medication outweigh the benefit?

  • Are you tired of letting depression take control of your life?

  • Is depression affecting your ability to make good life choices?

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, please ask your provider to refer you to our TMS treatment! 

TMS treatment cannot be conducted on anyone who has metal or implanted devices in his or her body. Clinical trials are being conducted on patients suffering from ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, etc. However, most health insurance companies will only pay for the treatment if the patient has treatment resistant depression and has gone through many failed medication treatments. We can conduct a clinical interview with you to see if you may qualify for TMS treatment paid for by your insurance company.

We are an in-network provider with multiple insurance carriers. We use a state of the art TMS machine from Denmark that is capable of delivering theta bursts that conventional TMS machines can’t. Theta bursts have been shown to be superior to conventional treatment protocols. We are a comprehensive mental health practice that provides medication management,  and psychotherapy, in addition to TMS service. We are open 7 days a week for your convenience. We have the most affordable rates if your insurance company does not cover you for your TMS treatment.

 

TMS is covered by most major insurances. 

Insight Choices is an In-Network provider for many insurance plans, including but are not limited to Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield of California, Aetna, Blue Shield of California / MHSA, United Healthcare / Optum, Cigna, ComPsych, and others.

TMS vs. Medication

TMS stands as a secure, noninvasive, and remarkably effective treatment for challenging cases of depression. Over the course of nearly a decade in the United States, it has established itself as a reputable option for tackling treatment-resistant depression, earning the trust of prestigious academic health institutions like Harvard, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford University, which have embraced TMS for many years.

In comparison to Electric Shock Treatment (ECT) and traditional medication approaches, TMS boasts a marked advantage of fewer side effects. Many individuals grappling with depression have tried various medications without achieving complete relief from symptoms. However, upon undergoing TMS, a substantial number have experienced a total alleviation of their distressing symptoms.

Unlike numerous antidepressants, which often lead to undesirable side effects such as weight gain, dry mouth, drowsiness, jitteriness, or sexual issues, TMS offers a more tolerable and patient-friendly treatment option by circumventing these drawbacks.

TMS vs. Medication
Targeted Brain Stimulation with TMS

Medications enter the body and can exert their influence on various areas, such as the liver, kidney, thyroid, gut, and muscles, among others. In contrast, TMS specifically targets the precise region of the brain we aim to stimulate, without impacting other bodily functions. It’s important to note, however, that individuals with metal or implanted devices are not eligible for TMS treatment but can still opt for medication.

While TMS treatment may entail higher short-term costs compared to antidepressant therapy, its long-term cost-effectiveness can surpass that of medication due to its potential for achieving more robust remission outcomes. When considering expenses related to hospitalization, medical professionals, therapists, long-term medication, and depression-related conditions, TMS treatment has the capacity to yield savings for both the health insurance company and the patient.

TMS vs. ECT (Electric Shock Treatment)

TMS uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate a localized portion of the brain whereas ECT uses electricity to stimulate a bigger portion of the brain. ECT requires a person to be unconscious under anesthesia. TMS treatment is an outpatient procedure and doesn’t require anesthesia or blood work. TMS doesn’t cause short-term memory loss like ECT does. TMS treatment costs much less than ECT. The effect of ECT on depression appears to be stronger than conventional TMS. However, there are more possibilities of something going wrong due to anesthesia with ECT. There are also more possibilities of side effects from ECT than with TMS treatment. 

TMS vs ECT

Proven Results

Our patients have seen great results, and notice their symptoms reduce by the second week of treatment. 

There are different various ways we measure how successful treatment is going. For us, the depressive symptoms should be reduced by at least 50% by the end of treatment. We measure depressive symptoms by using scales called the BDI-2, and the PHQ-9 scale. 

Please see attached graph from one of our past TMS patients. 

In this particular data, the baseline score of the BDI-2 was 40, by the end of this patient’s treatment he scored at a 22. Which is about 50% improvement. In terms of his PHQ-9 his baseline score was a 21, and by the end of treatment his PHQ-9 scored at an 8. We can see that this patient had a significant reduction of their depressive symptoms. 

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)

Classification Total Score
Severe Depression
29-63
Moderate Depression
20-28
Mild Depression
14-19
Minimal Depression
0-13

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

Classification Total Score Level
Significant
20-27
Severe depression
Moderate
15-19
10-14
Moderate depression
Low
5-9
Low depression
1-4
Minimal depression

Beck Anxiety Inventory

Classification Total Score
Severe Anxiety
26-63
Moderate Anxiety
16-25
Mild Anxiety
8-15
Minimal Anxiety
0-7

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS)

The WEMWBS is a measure of mental well-being focusing entirely on positive aspects of mental health.
The minimum scale score is 14 and the maximum is 70. 
Higher scores are associated with higher levels of mental well-being.

Health Insurance Companies That Cover TMS Treatment

If you do not see your health insurance plan listed above, please contact us at (323) 375-0950 to see how we can help you with TMS in West Hollywood and Hollywood.