Dr. Boris Kawliche is a board-certified psychiatrist and one of Tampa Bay’s few providers of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). He is also the first local psychiatrist to use Theta Burst, an advanced form of TMS that requires fewer, shorter sessions than traditional TMS.
Who is a good candidate for TMS to treat their depression?
Someone who has not improved with traditional depression treatments. If you have tried at least four antidepressants and had some form of talk therapy without significant improvement, all insurances, with the exception of Medicaid, will cover your traditional TMS. You must also score 17 or above on the PHQ9, a depression rating scale. Medicare and Tricare do not require a prior authorization as long as these conditions are met. The studies indicate remission rates around 40 to 50 percent and response as high as 80 percent. That is much better than what medications are able to achieve in the same time period.
Brandon TMS and Psychiatry is the first TMS practice in the Tampa Bay area to offer Theta Burst. What is it, and how is it beneficial to patients?
Theta Burst is the newest FDA-approved Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation technique. Most scientists agree that Theta Burst is equivalent in efficacy and safety to traditional TMS, which takes nine weeks to complete. The main advantage of Theta Burst is that it is much faster. It can be completed in as little as a week’s time. It gives patients much more flexibility and many more options. We are offering Theta Burst at the promotional cost of $7,000 to those who mention this ad.
How has TMS helped your patients?
We have seen patients that did not respond to ECT or traditional TMS go into remission with Theta Burst TMS. We are also on the cutting edge of using Theta Burst to treat children and adolescents, and we have seen very promising results. There are only two machines in the Tampa Bay area capable of performing this advanced form of TMS, and they have been operated by Brandon TMS and Psychiatry off-label for two years prior to the FDA approval.
How has Theta Burst TMS helped your patients?
TMS and Theta Burst are only FDA approved so far for treatment-resistant depression, and Deep TMS just got FDA approval for OCD. We see excellent results with many other conditions, and the following are being researched: generalized anxiety, bipolar depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, autistic spectrum, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, addictions, migraines, fibromyalgia and low back pain. The Veterans Administration purchased 40 of these systems to treat PTSD and traumatic brain injuries last year. The Navy SEALs are exploring their potential to help those elite troops during the rigors of combat. We offer special discounts to the armed forces.
Q&A with Dr. Kawliche
Last book you read? “Voyage au bout de la nuit” by Louis Ferdinand Celine
Favorite way to spend the weekend? Painting and drawing
Favorite healthy living tip? Everything in moderation
BRANDON TMS AND PSYCHIATRY
407 N. Parsons Ave. #104
(813) 681-5880
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