Boston Medical Center HealthCity says TMS is an FDA-approved, non-invasive, evidence-based option for depression when other treatments have failed, according to its report.
Depression and treatment resistance
Boston Medical Center HealthCity reports that an estimated 31.4 million Americans ages 18 to 65 reported major depressive disorder in 2023. The source says about 30% of people with depression are resistant to treatment. Boston Medical Center HealthCity links treatment-resistant depression with lower quality of life, unemployment, and relapse.
The HealthCity report also describes a patient who tried medication after medication for depression. The source uses that experience alongside its discussion of people whose depression has not responded to prior treatment. Boston Medical Center HealthCity does not present medication as the only treatment discussed in the extract.
TMS in the source report
Boston Medical Center HealthCity describes transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, as a non-invasive and evidence-based alternative when other treatments fail. The source states that TMS has been FDA-approved for depression since 2008. HealthCity presents TMS in the context of depression that is resistant to treatment.
The report’s description identifies TMS as a treatment option for depression rather than a replacement for every type of depression care. Boston Medical Center HealthCity specifically connects its discussion of TMS to people for whom other treatments have failed.
What the source does and does not establish
Boston Medical Center HealthCity reports population estimates for major depressive disorder and treatment resistance, along with a patient account of repeated medication attempts. The source also states that TMS is FDA-approved for depression and describes it as non-invasive and evidence-based.
The HealthCity extract links treatment-resistant depression to quality-of-life, employment, and relapse concerns. It does not change the fact that the source presents TMS as an alternative when other treatments fail, rather than as a claim that one approach is suitable for every person with depression.
What this means for Massachusetts patients
Boston Medical Center HealthCity’s description may help Massachusetts patients understand why TMS can arise in discussions of depression that has not responded to other treatment. For people trying to find treatment locally, the directory lists 146 published clinics in Massachusetts.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Massachusetts reporting on treatment updates.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.