At Synergy NeuroPsychiatry, we offer BrainsWay Deep TMS as part of our physician-led interventional psychiatry services.
Depression and anxiety symptoms can occur together. Persistent worry, physical tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep disruption, and feeling unable to settle can add to the daily burden of depression.
This page addresses Deep TMS for eligible adults with major depressive disorder who also experience anxiety symptoms. It does not present Deep TMS as a general treatment for every anxiety disorder.
Depression and anxiety can affect many of the same areas of life. You may feel low in mood while also feeling tense, worried, restless, or unable to focus. Sleep, motivation, decision-making, energy, relationships, and daily responsibilities can all become harder to manage.
When these symptoms occur together, a careful psychiatric evaluation can help clarify the full picture. We consider your diagnosis, current symptoms, treatment history, medical background, and the ways symptoms are affecting your daily life.
For some people, anxiety symptoms are part of a depressive episode. For others, another diagnosis or treatment approach may be more appropriate. That distinction matters when considering Deep TMS.
BrainsWay Deep TMS is FDA-cleared for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who have not achieved satisfactory improvement with previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
This does not mean Deep TMS is a general treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, or every anxiety concern.
At Synergy NeuroPsychiatry, we review the full clinical picture before discussing whether Deep TMS may fit your care plan. Recommendations depend on diagnosis, symptoms, prior treatment response, safety considerations, and individual clinical needs.
BrainsWay Deep TMS is a noninvasive form of transcranial magnetic stimulation. It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain and does not require anesthesia.
Deep TMS is provided in an outpatient setting. It is not surgery, and it is not medication. Instead, it is an interventional psychiatry option that may be considered for some eligible adults after careful evaluation.
For patients with depression and anxiety symptoms, Deep TMS may be one part of a broader psychiatric care conversation. Medication management or coordination with other clinicians may also remain part of care when appropriate.
Before Deep TMS is considered, we review the concerns bringing you in, what treatments you have already tried, and how symptoms are affecting your life.
Your evaluation may include discussion of:
An evaluation does not mean Deep TMS will automatically be recommended. It is an opportunity to better understand your symptoms and discuss available care pathways.
Deep TMS is not appropriate for everyone. Certain metal objects or implanted stimulation devices in or near the head can make Deep TMS inappropriate. A history of seizures or factors that may increase seizure risk should also be reviewed.
Headache and temporary discomfort around the treatment area can occur. Your clinician can discuss potential risks, expected effects, and questions specific to your health history before treatment is considered.
BrainsWay Deep TMS carries several distinct FDA clearances that extend beyond standard adult major depressive disorder treatment. These include clearance for major depressive disorder with comorbid anxious distress, a separate clearance for major depressive disorder in elderly patients, a clearance for treatment-resistant depression in adolescents, and clearance as an adjunct treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. At Synergy NeuroPsychiatry, our clinical team evaluates which clearance, if any, applies to you based on diagnosis, age, treatment history, and current symptom presentation.
Deep TMS has been studied in adults with major depressive disorder, including patients who experience anxiety symptoms alongside depression.
Research and FDA clearance support discussing Deep TMS as an option for selected adults with major depressive disorder and comorbid anxiety symptoms when prior antidepressant medication treatment has not provided satisfactory improvement.
This does not mean every patient will have the same experience or that a specific outcome can be guaranteed. Our role is to consider the available evidence alongside your diagnosis, treatment history, safety profile, and individual clinical needs.
If you are experiencing depression along with anxiety symptoms and previous treatment has not provided enough support, we are here to help you explore whether Deep TMS may be appropriate as part of your psychiatric care plan.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Summary: BrainsWay Deep TMS System, K222196.
Pell, G. S., et al. “Efficacy of Deep TMS With the H1 Coil for Anxious Depression.” Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022, 11(4), 1015.
Levkovitz, Y., et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Major Depression: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.” World Psychiatry, 2015, 14(1), 64–73.
National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety Disorders.
If you are looking for psychiatry, medication management, or advanced outpatient treatment options in the Kalamazoo area, contact Synergy NeuroPsychiatry to learn more about care options.