Effectiveness
Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of NeuroStar® TMS Therapy in treating patients
who have not benefited from prior antidepressant medication. NeuroStar TMS Therapy was studied in
adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, all of whom had not received satisfactory
improvement with previous treatments.
An Effective Option for Treating Major Depressive Disorder
In a study where patients received active treatment (similar to a real clinical context), as
well as a 12-month follow-up, over half of the patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced
significant improvement in their depression symptoms. About a third of the patients treated with
NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced complete symptom relief at the end of six weeks. The study consisted
of 307 unipolar, non-psychotic MDD patients in acute phase.
Patients treated with NeuroStar® also experienced significant improvement in anxiety and physical
symptoms (such as appetite changes, aches and pains, and lack of energy) associated with depression.
Additionally, Neuronetics has developed a new tool to use in educating patients on the best practices
of treating depression. The Best Practices Treatment Guideline for Depression has been developed to
help patients understand TMS Therapy as an option if their first line antidepressant medications stop
working. This guideline is based on the 2010 American Psychiatric Association's practice guidelines and
NeuroStar TMS Therapy indication for use, which says:
NeuroStar TMS Therapy is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adult patients who
have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication at or above the minimal
effective dose and duration in the current episode.
Please see the
Treatment Algorithm
for an effective illustration of the use of NeuroStar TMS Therapy early
on in the treatment of depression.
NeuroStar TMS Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.
Its effectiveness has also not been established in patients that have failed to receive benefit from two or
more prior antidepressant medications at minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode.
