Lane Cook, M.D., founder of TMS of Knoxville, was the first psychiatrist in East Tennessee to use non-invasive, state-of-the-art MagVenture® TMS technology. FDA-cleared in 2008 for patients who have not benefited from antidepressants, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation has proven to provide better outcomes for difficult depression than any combination of medications.
“In my psychiatric practice, I have always been progressive and inventive with medications. Over a decade ago, I discovered TMS as an alternative for treatment-resistant depression,” Dr. Cook says. “I tell patients if you’ve failed to improve with two antidepressants, then you have treatment-resistant depression. Chances of achieving total relief of depression with another medication after four failures are under 10 percent.”
“The typical patient we see has been on eight to ten meds and depressed for 20 years or more,” Dr. Cook explains. “We’ve treated over 300 patients in 10 years and administered over 16,000 TMS treatments. Three out of four improve. Two out of three respond. Fifty-five percent go into remission. Most people with co-existing anxiety see that improve as well.“
Patients can be self-referred or referred by other psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, physicians or therapists. An assessment and screening process culminates in a free consultation with TMS Coordinator Terry Chumley and Dr. Cook.
“At the consult, we do a demo on the forearm. It’s the same as a charging pad for your cell phone,” Dr. Cook explains. “When you pulse an electromagnet, it creates a current in adjacent things – creating a current in your brain without creating a current at your scalp. You relax in the TMC chair, it’s painless, and then you drive yourself home and resume your day.”
Covered by most insurance and Medicare, TMS is a treatment plan of 30-minute sessions, five days in a row typically for six weeks. “We continue to see patients who have been depressed for decades get well, amazed their symptoms are gone – much like the patient who no longer has chronic physical pain,” Dr. Cook adds.
For more information on TMS and medication management, visit tmsofknoxville.com
"Two out of three respond. Fifty-five percent go into remission."