TMS Improves Quality of Life from Depression Better Than Traditional Treatment Options

July 1, 2022

Quality of Life: Antidepressants vs. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), for the year 2020, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affected about 21 million adults in the United States, or 8.4% of all U.S. adults (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression).


Unfortunately, major depression is oftentimes a chronic and debilitating condition. Despite a wide array of antidepressant medications available for the treatment of MDD, nearly two-thirds of patients do not benefit adequately from an initial course of pharmacotherapy (The Definition and Meaning of Treatment-Resistant Depression (psychiatrist.com). In addition, approximately one-third of patients seeking repeated depression treatment due to lack of response, will continue to live with the crippling effects of depression (The Prevalence and National Burden of Treatment-Resistant Depression and Major Depressive Disorder in the United States | Psychiatrist.com.)
One major effect depression has on individuals is negatively impacting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Health-related quality of life refers to a multidimensional concept commonly used to examine the impact of health status on quality of life (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940947/).


Some of the ways that depression can negatively impact a person’s HRQoL is by predisposing an individual to unhealthy or risky behaviors such as inactivity, overeating, smoking, and noncompliance to their medications. Quality of Life scales such as the SF-36 questionnaire hence assess individuals' perception of their overall physical and mental well-being, in addition to typical symptoms of depression such as persistent sadness, lack of interest, or low energy (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0265928). 


So how do standard treatments targeting depression fare in terms of health-related quality of life measures? Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, used individually and in combination, have typically been the standard for treating major depression. Many clinical trials have indicated that pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have the potential to improve a patient’s symptoms and quality of life, however, the evidence around the overall benefit remains controversial. For example, numerous meta-analyses have been conducted to determine the change in outcomes for patients treated for MDD. The results of these studies indicated that most of the improvement, about 80%, potentially came from the placebo effect for medications. In addition, additional studies found that the long-term effect of antidepressants on health-related quality of life was limited to the first two to three months after the initiation of pharmacotherapy, and when comparing the use of antidepressants to patients who did not use any antidepressant medications, change in HRQoL was found to be equivalent (
Antidepressants and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with depression: Analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey from the United States | PLOS ONE).


So if antidepressants and/or therapy fail for some one-third of patients seeking treatment and if these treatments don’t typically improve overall health-related quality of life long term, what other treatments are available? Are there other treatments that show improved outcomes in treatment resistant depression and based on quality of life rating scales? 


Thankfully the answer is yes - TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation. One study, involving over 300 patients, found that TMS was significantly effective in improving not only symptoms of depression, but health-related quality of life as well. This study additionally found that TMS treatment has a relatively rapid beneficial impact on the QOL of patients (
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cns-spectrums/article/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-tms-for-major-depression-a-multisite-naturalistic-observational-study-of-quality-of-life-outcome-measures-in-clinical-practice/F21C45F5B2DDCF37643FF5739B36A6D1). Additional studies have also found that this improvement in QOL is sustained for 24 weeks following TMS treatment (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X13003434). It is important to highlight that studies assessing response with TMS treatment are almost exclusively looking at response for patients that have already failed at least a couple antidepressants and therapy previously. Current large registry data consistently indicates that two-thirds or more of TMS treated patients will achieve at least a 50% improvement in depressive symptoms by treatment end utilizing a standard course of FDA approved treatment (Clinical outcomes in a large registry of patients with major depressive disorder treated with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - ScienceDirect).


It has been established that depression is a highly prevalent and persistent illness that causes significant disability and oftentime worsening in quality of life. While standard treatment modalities can improve depressive symptoms short term, they do not always improve quality of life or symptoms long term. The use of
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, however, has proven to be a highly effective treatment option for improving the common symptoms of depression in addition to significantly improving patients' reported quality of life. Antidepressants and psychotherapy are time-honored treatment modalities that do often lead to significant improvement for patients, but TMS therapy provides an alternative when these conventional treatments prove unsuccessful. TMS therapy is safe, non-invasive, carries no systemic side-effects, and offers relatively rapid results that have been shown to last. 


If antidepressants and psychotherapy haven’t worked for you, and you are looking for an alternative to improve your mental health and quality of life, TMS may be right for you! Take our
quiz online, or set up a free phone consultation with our doctor today to find out if you might qualify for TMS therapy through your insurance. Living with depression and other mental health conditions isn’t easy, but fortunately, we have a growing body of research regarding TMS therapy and its ability to improve depressive symptoms as well as quality of life. Check out our page TMS Vs Medication - A Full Comparison [2022] (inspiretmsdenver.com) for more information on comparing TMS vs additional medication trials when treating depression.

Every Question Answered

Want to know more about TMS? Check out this in-depth guide to TMS therapy with transparent and easy to understand explanations about TMS processes, protocols, and treated conditions.

Latest Posts

By Sam Clinch December 13, 2025
Quick summary (the short answers) Medicare: Often covers TMS for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder when the plan’s clinical criteria (such as prior medication trials) are met and prior authorization is approved. Inspire routinely helps patients with Medicare benefits checks and authorizations. Medicaid: Coverage varies by state . Some state Medicaid plans cover TMS with strict medical necessity criteria; others do not. Inspire collects your insurance details and runs a state-specific benefits check. Pre-authorization: Nearly always required. Insurers want documented prior treatment attempts, objective symptom measures (PHQ-9), and a psychiatrist’s letter of medical necessity. Inspire will run the authorization for you once you approve.
By Sam Clinch December 12, 2025
What Inspire TMS Denver accepts and what that means In-network / insurer relationships: Inspire states it accepts major commercial insurers and works with patients to obtain coverage - including Medicare and Tricare, where criteria are met - and the clinic routinely runs benefits checks and prior authorizations on a patient’s behalf. That means you don’t need to guess whether a policy will pay - Inspire will verify for you. Common Medicare / commercial rules (examples): Different payers have specific clinical criteria. For example (from the clinic’s pricing documents): Anthem - typically requires failure of two different antidepressants from different classes (or intolerance). Medicare -may require failure of one previous antidepressant (or intolerance) Tricare - covers TMS when it is medically necessary and prior less-intensive interventions have failed or are inappropriate. These examples illustrate typical insurer frameworks, but your plan may differ. What’s often covered vs not covered: Commonly covered: FDA-cleared TMS for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder when prior treatment criteria are met and prior authorization is approved. Often not covered (or considered “off-label”): accelerated TMS protocols , certain indications (some anxiety/insomnia/experimental uses), and some PTSD/anxiety uses; these may require self-pay or sliding-scale payment. Inspire notes it offers sliding-scale/self-pay for off-label care and for financial hardship.
By Sam Clinch December 12, 2025
How TMS is different: a quick, plain-language explanation TMS uses a magnetic coil to stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with mood and emotional control. It’s non-invasive, does not require anesthesia, and is performed in an outpatient setting. Instead of changing chemistry like antidepressants or providing a rapid but medication-based reset like ketamine , TMS aims to retrain brain circuits by repeatedly activating under-performing regions so they function more normally over time. Inspire’s patient materials stress this neuroplastic, circuit-based approach and describe mapping, stimulation and physician oversight used to personalize treatment.
By Sam Clinch December 11, 2025
What is “treatment-resistant depression” (TRD)? Clinically, TRD is commonly defined as depression that has not sufficiently responded to an adequate trial of two different antidepressants (from at least two different classes) given at therapeutic doses and durations. Some insurers and clinical guidelines use this “two-trial” rule when deciding whether to cover advanced treatments like TMS. Medicare and commercial payers may have slightly different wording (for example, Medicare sometimes requires one failed antidepressant; Anthem often requires two). The key idea is consistent: TRD means standard medication strategies haven’t produced an acceptable response.
By Sam Clinch December 10, 2025
Your main options while you’re in Colorado Short/accelerated courses If you have very limited time, accelerated TMS (iTBS or compressed protocols) lets clinics deliver many sessions over a few days rather than weeks. Inspire offers accelerated regimens (MagVenture-capable) and lists accelerated TMS as an option for patients who need a fast course, but note: accelerated courses are often not covered by insurance and usually require self-pay or sliding-scale arrangements. Maintenance or “rescue” sessions Maintenance or “rescue” sessions If you’ve completed a full course and need occasional boosters to maintain gains while away, maintenance TMS (weekly, biweekly, or monthly sessions) is common. Clinics also provide rescue or extension courses when symptoms re-emerge. Maintenance often requires a clinician discussion to set frequency, and many insurers do not routinely cover maintenance so clinics may offer packages or discounted session bundles. Full course continuation If your original acute course was interrupted, many clinics will pick up or adjust your plan; this typically requires review of previous mapping and progress measures and coordination with your home TMS provider. Inspire performs mapping and tailors plans to each patient’s needs.
Soldiers in uniform seated in a circle; one person comforts another, all in a support group setting.
By Sam Clinch December 9, 2025
Short answer: Yes — Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used to treat PTSD symptoms, and many patients report improvements in intrusive memories (flashbacks), hypervigilance and reactivity. At Inspire TMS Denver we tailor TMS protocols to each person’s needs and monitor results closely, offering standard and advanced TMS options for trauma-related symptoms.
Woman in blue scrubs smiles in front of an
By Sam Clinch December 9, 2025
Who is this page for? If you’re searching “ TMS therapy near me ” because medications or therapy haven’t worked, this guide walks you through what TMS is, the types of TMS offered at Inspire TMS Denver, who qualifies, what a typical course looks like, cost & insurance realities, and real patient experiences so you can decide whether to book a free consultation. Inspire is a doctor-led clinic that specializes in evidence-based TMS and personalized care.
By Sam Clinch November 20, 2025
Recognizing the Signs of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed due to its fluctuating nature. Common signs include: Periods of extreme energy or euphoria (mania or hypomania) Sudden shifts to sadness, fatigue, or hopelessness (depression) Difficulty concentrating or making decisions Sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or too little) Impulsive or risky behavior Feelings of irritability or agitation  While everyone experiences mood shifts occasionally, those with bipolar disorder often find these changes disruptive to work, relationships, and daily life.
By Leo Cook November 18, 2025
If you’re struggling with depression, you’re not alone - and you’re likely asking: What actually works? That’s where TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) enters the conversation. Let’s break down how effective TMS really is - nationally and here at Inspire TMS Denver .
By Sam Clinch November 18, 2025
Understand Eligibility, Insurance, and Whether TMS Might Be Right for You
Show More