Anxiety Disorders

TMS Device NeuroStar Cleared for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Avatar photoBrian Park, PharmD
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NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is a transcranial magnetic stimulation system that uses magnetic fields to induce neural activity in the cerebral cortex.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy for Mental Health as an adjunct in the treatment of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is a transcranial magnetic stimulation system that uses magnetic fields to induce neural activity in the cerebral cortex. The device was previously approved for use in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode.

The system consists of an electromagnetic coil, a neurostimulator to generate the electrical stimulus for the coil, a cooling system, a positioning device, and software to control the device. Treatment is performed in an outpatient setting.

Healthcare providers can now use the system to treat both OCD and MDD without the need for additional hardware upgrades or purchases. The Company uses a proprietary cloud-based software, TrakStar, to remotely activate the new treatment protocol for trained providers.

“Despite the severe functional impairment that OCD can cause, unfortunately, only one third of individuals with OCD seek treatment,” said Scott West, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Nashville NeuroCare Therapy. “NeuroStar receiving FDA clearance for OCD is important for my practice because more patients will have access to an effective and safe TMS treatment for both MDD and OCD without needing to buy any new equipment.”

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References

  1. NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy for Mental Health receives FDA clearance for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. News release. Neuronetics. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/10/2439779/0/en/NeuroStar-Advanced-Therapy-for-Mental-Health-Receives-FDA-Clearance-for-Treatment-of-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder.html
  2. How does NeuroStar® work? Helping the brain work the way it should. Neurostar® Advanced Therapy for Mental Health. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://neurostar.com/how-does-neurostar-work/

This article originally appeared on MPR