Welcome to Austin TMS Clinic for Depression

The Austin TMS Clinic for Depression is directed by Dr. Marilyn Vache. We provide patients in Austin and the Texas Hill Country the latest in depression treatments. We are pleased to be able to offer Neurostar® TMS Therapy to our patients. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy is one of the most technologically advanced depression treatments available.

Dr Vaché was interviewed recently on the Austin NBC affiliate, KXAN. Here's a brief description of how TMS works for patients with depression: http://www.youtube.com/user/TMSAustinVache

A cutting edge, non-drug approach to depression, The NeuroStar device, cleared by the FDA in 2008, provides a safe outpatient treatment that doesn't cause significant side effects -- a great alternative to the medications that often leave people feeling emotionally numb and physically uncomfortable. We are seeing impressive results and encourage anyone seeking an alternative or augmentation to current therapies to call for a consultation (512 458-1000).

In our first two years we have treated some 40 patients; 75% had improvement and 2/3 of those had remission of their depression -- all without side effects.

Because TMS is a new technology insurance companies do not automatically cover it, though many patients are getting reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. Depression itself is costly and usually affects everyone around the person who has it. If you are considering TMS you can be proud that you are willing to try something new, something that thousands of other people have tried and benefitted from. TMS can be a valuable investment in your health and well-being.

The original research articles that have studied TMS showed that over half of patients had improvement in depression and about one-third had remission. In real-world clinical practice — and certainly in our office — results are better than that. There are probably many reasons for that, but one that most doctors agree on is that patients who are having some positive results with their meds do not have to stop them — whereas in the research trials patients had to be off all their meds. Even better, the results seem to last, with longer depression-free periods after TMS than is usually seen with medications.

In Amarillo's Women in Business, Spring 2010, two women who administer TMS treatments talk about what it's like to see people get better.

Leading research and teaching institutions, including UT Southwestern at Dallas, Stanford (my alma mater!), Massachusetts General Hospital (associated with Harvard), the Mayo Clinic, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and many other military hospitals and VA's are studying and using TMS.

NAMI, a great force for political advocacy, research support, and family education, is also viewing TMS in a favorable light.