OCD
When the thoughts keep looping, there’s a way through.
OCD brings thoughts you don’t want that keep coming back (obsessions), and urges to repeat things over and over (compulsions). Many people have a passing urge like this. With OCD, it takes hold and gets in the way of your life.
What it can feel like
Everyone’s experience is different. These are some of the things people tell us.
- Fear of germs
- Fear of being harmed
- Needing things to be symmetrical
- Needing things done in a certain order
- Washing your hands again and again
- Rearranging things that are already in order
- Checking over and over that the door is locked
If you’re having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 now, any time of day. You’ll reach someone who can help.
You’re not the only one.
Dr. Mark Liker, neurosurgeon and founder
What treatment looks like
Short sessions while you’re awake and comfortable. No anesthesia, no medication, and you drive yourself home.
In their own words
Paying for it
Questions people ask
How does TMS help OCD?
We target the specific brain areas involved in OCD. Calming that circuit can greatly reduce intrusive thoughts, rumination and compulsive behavior.
Is TMS safe for OCD?
TMS is generally well tolerated, and TMS devices have been FDA-cleared for OCD in adults since 2018. Scalp discomfort and headache can occur. We’ll tell you which device and protocol we’d use, and go over the risks with you before you decide.
Will insurance cover it?
Some insurance plans cover TMS for OCD, though most don’t. We’ll check your benefits, and if you need to pay directly, we offer payment plans and CareCredit.
What are the side effects?
The most common are scalp discomfort where the coil sits and a mild headache, usually in the first sessions. Some people have none. Seizures are rare. Your clinician will go over the risks with you before you start.
What does a session look like?
Most sessions take up to about 30 minutes, including setup. We place a small tracker on your face and a coil on your head, and you’ll feel light tapping that people often compare to a woodpecker. You can get back to your day right after.
When will I start to feel better?
Everyone is different. Some people feel better right away, and others after a few weeks. Your technician will walk you through what’s normal along the way.
Can I keep seeing my therapist?
Yes, and we encourage it. Talk therapy works well alongside TMS, and we can recommend a therapist if you don’t have one.
OCD brings thoughts you don’t want that keep coming back (obsessions), and urges to repeat things over and over (compulsions). Many people have a passing urge like this. With OCD, it takes hold and gets in the way of your life.
If you’ve been treated for OCD before and it didn’t help enough, TMS may be a good fit. We target the brain circuit behind OCD to quiet intrusive thoughts and compulsions, without medication.
Thoughts that keep coming back
- Fear of germs
- Fear of being harmed
- Needing things to be symmetrical
- Needing things done in a certain order
Urges you feel you must act on
- Washing your hands again and again
- Rearranging things that are already in order
- Checking over and over that the door is locked
How we treat ocd
Finding the circuit
OCD is linked to overactivity in a loop of brain areas, especially the orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex.
Calming the loop
TMS helps regulate that overactivity, which can reduce intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior.
Easing what comes with it
OCD often comes with anxiety and depression. TMS can lift mood and help with emotional balance too.
Why people choose TMS here
- Fewer intrusive thoughts
- Less time lost to compulsions
- Less anxiety and a lighter mood
- Clearer mind and less stress
- More ease at work, at home and with friends
Treatment plans
Standard TMS
30 sessions, once a day, Monday to Friday. 30-minute sessions for 6 weeks. Some insurance plans cover it, though most don’t. Otherwise it’s cash pay.
Paying for treatment
Some plans cover it, most don’t
Some insurance plans cover TMS for OCD, though most don’t. We’ll check your benefits for free.
If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can pay directly. We offer payment plans. Financing may also be available through CareCredit, subject to credit approval and the lender’s terms.
The numbers
- 1 in 100 American adults had OCD in the past year. (NIMH, National Comorbidity Survey)
- In the trial that led to FDA clearance, 38 in 100 responded to TMS, against 11 in 100 given a placebo. (Randomized trial at 11 centers (Carmi et al., 2019))
- A month after treatment ended, 45 in 100 had responded. (Randomized trial at 11 centers (Carmi et al., 2019))
Dr. Liker explains: TMS can be used to treat many brain conditions