Where the evidence is established.
Anew TMS uses the FDA-cleared Ampa One system to treat adults with Major Depressive Disorder who have not experienced satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medication. This established use forms the foundation of our care; beyond it, Dr. Stone may also consider emerging applications where the research supports a thoughtful clinical discussion.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is more than feeling temporarily sad or discouraged. It can affect mood, motivation, sleep, concentration, energy, relationships, and the ability to function in everyday life.
The Ampa One TMS system that Anew TMS uses is FDA-cleared for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adults when antidepressant medication has not provided satisfactory improvement during the current depressive episode.
When Depression Hasn’t Responded to Medication
For some people, one or more antidepressant medications simply do not provide enough relief. Others may experience improvement but continue to have significant symptoms or struggle with medication side effects.
This is the population included in Ampa One’s FDA-cleared indication: adults with MDD who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode. This is often described clinically as treatment-resistant depression.
Areas of Ongoing Research
TMS is being studied for conditions beyond its established indications. Below are several areas of active research and what the current evidence suggests. These are evolving fields, and findings should be understood as promising areas of investigation rather than established standards of care
Cognition & Memory
Researchers are studying whether TMS can influence brain networks involved in memory, attention, and other aspects of cognitive function, including in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
What the research suggests
Systematic reviews involving thousands of participants have reported improvements in some measures of cognition following repetitive TMS. Studies focused specifically on Alzheimer’s disease have also found potential benefits in memory and cognitive performance.
However, results vary substantially across studies, and researchers have not yet established the optimal treatment targets, stimulation protocols, patient populations, or duration of benefit.
Post-Traumatic Stress
TMS has also been investigated as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly by targeting brain circuits involved in emotional regulation, fear processing, and traumatic memory.
What the research suggests
Some studies and meta-analyses have reported meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms following TMS. Other reviews have concluded that the existing evidence is not yet strong enough to establish a clear benefit because studies have generally been small and treatment approaches have varied considerably.
For now, TMS for PTSD remains an evolving area of research.
Anxiety
Researchers are investigating TMS for anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, by targeting brain networks involved in emotional regulation and the stress response.
What the research suggests
Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that repetitive TMS and related forms of noninvasive brain stimulation may reduce anxiety symptoms for some patients. At the same time, studies remain relatively small and use a variety of treatment protocols.
Larger studies and longer-term follow-up are still needed before TMS can be considered an established treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.
Bipolar Depression
Researchers have studied TMS for depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, particularly for patients whose symptoms have not responded adequately to conventional treatments.
What the research suggests
Recent reviews suggest that TMS may have antidepressant effects for some people experiencing bipolar depression. However, findings across individual studies have been inconsistent, and the evidence base remains smaller than it is for major depressive disorder.
Careful psychiatric evaluation is particularly important when considering neuromodulation in someone with bipolar disorder.
These applications are investigational. TMS is not FDA-cleared for the conditions described below. The effectiveness of these approaches has not been established, individual results cannot be predicted, and treatment for these indications is typically self-pay rather than covered by insurance.