--- title: "Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail | Sutter Health" description: "After years of medication for his depression, James turned to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for a way to start feeling better." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail # Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail * * * 2024 Contributors: [Ozra Eslampanah Nobari](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-ozra-eslampanah-nobari-1046249625), [Hammad Khan](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-hammad-khan-1046250852) James Weaver had depression and anxiety caused by a variety of traumas in his life and career. Traditional psychiatric therapies weren’t working, so he turned to Sutter Center for Psychiatry in Sacramento for advanced treatment. The region’s premier psychiatric hospital and outpatient center had the right therapy for him: transcranial magnetic stimulation, also known as TMS. It is a non-invasive, interventional option for those dealing with major depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven’t responded to traditional medications or psychotherapy. Sutter Center for Psychiatry interventional psychiatrist Dr. Hammad Khan shows how the newest TMS chair will be providing safe, non-invasive treatments in just a week for those suffering depression and other psychiatric conditions. Weaver’s two-month TMS treatment worked. “I was hoping for anything that they could do for me,” Weaver says. “What I got was so way beyond that.” Now, Sutter Center for Psychiatry has launched an accelerated TMS program that will compress the traditional six- to eight-week TMS treatment down to one week. It is the latest tool from the interventional psychiatry department at Sutter Center for Psychiatry, which is the only hospital in the Sacramento region that has both TMS and its sister therapy — electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT — for those who aren’t responding to traditional psychiatric treatments. The dual approach of ECT and TMS highlights the comprehensive nature of Sutter’s offerings. ECT is known for its effectiveness in rapidly alleviating severe depressive symptoms and other acute mental health conditions. It involves administering a controlled electrical stimulus to the brain under anesthesia. On the other hand, TMS offers a non-invasive alternative, using magnetic waves to target brain areas involved in mood regulation, allowing patients to remain awake with minimal side effects. ## ****New Accelerated TMS Program**** Approved by the [FDA](https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2022.10.10.40) in 2019, accelerated TMS therapy occurs over two weeks or less, with three to five sessions conducted each day. “The accelerated program is tailored for patients seeking quick results and those who are not suitable candidates for ECT due to potential anesthesia side effects,” said Dr. Hammad Khan, Sutter Center for Psychiatry’s director of interventional psychiatry. Both traditional and accelerated TMS employ the same magnetic brain stimulation technique but differ mainly in their treatment schedules. Despite the intensity of the treatments, patients generally feel normal afterward and can return to their regular activities immediately. ## ****Community Involvement Expands Services**** Community support, including significant contributions from the [Thomas P. Raley Foundation](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/sutter-health-receives-foundational-gift-to-enhance-mental-health-services-in-sacramento/) , has been instrumental in creating a new Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at Sutter. The effort will merge inpatient and outpatient services, enhancing Sutter’s ability to treat a wider range of conditions and reinforcing its role as a leader in mental health services in the region. A generous gift from the Thomas S. Raley Foundation establishes the Joyce Raley Teel Outpatient Center at Sutter Center for Psychiatry. “It’s uplifting to know that you’re not alone in this journey and you can actually become the voice of the voiceless,” said Sutter Center for Psychiatry Chief Medical Executive Dr. Ozra Nobari. During this Mental Health Awareness Month in May, expanded care options at Sutter Health and its Sutter Center for Psychiatry bring healing and hope. It did for James Weaver. He says he would highly recommend the TMS treatment he received to anyone in a similar position. His wife, Maria, agrees. “To see that shine come back … and seeing glimpses of who he was and who I know him to be,” she says, “I can’t even describe it.” Sutter has five inpatient care centers for mental health and addiction care across Northern California. These hospital-based and freestanding care sites offer 216 beds to serve patients requiring 24-hour care. Sutter also has eight outpatient care centers that provide mental health and addiction care services in our communities. Learn more about [Sutter Center for Psychiatry](https://www.sutterhealth.org/scp) or call 916-386-3620. ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Behavioral health care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Behavioral+health+care%22%5D%7D%5D) ## Your Mental Health Matters Talk to someone who cares. Our mental health providers are here to support you. [Book an Appointment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/book-appointment) ## Meet our care team ![Hammad Khan, M.D.](https://a.mktgcdn.com/p/FyTvA-cW1jBJ9KM8RL0OTZipM59wUiSUwbkxoW1c8mQ/480x480.jpg) [Hammad Khan, M.D.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-hammad-khan-1046250852) Psychiatry ![Ozra Eslampanah Nobari, M.D.](http://a.mktgcdn.com/p/hXtxbdUcfy3cvpmJbgxoZ4Qmz_eXW9jckCYxbDWNnw8/200x200.png) [Ozra Eslampanah Nobari, M.D.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-ozra-eslampanah-nobari-1046249625) Psychiatry - Child/Adolescent Psychiatry ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [Getting NorCal Teens Best Mental Health Support Is a Priority](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/getting-norcal-teens-best-mental-health-support-is-a-priority-2023563880) Audrey struggled with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. The care and support at Sutter Center for Psychiatry made all the difference. - Patient story ### [One Man’s Battle for Sobriety Leads to Transformation](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/one-mans-battle-for-sobriety-leads-to-transformation-2023563877) At MPI, part of Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, the treatment philosophy goes beyond detoxification into comprehensive healing. - Patient story ### [Mental Health Support App Helps Thousands in First Year](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/mental-health-support-app-helps-thousands-in-first-year-2023563864) Sutter's Scout app is an innovative tool for youth ages 13 to 22, empowering them to manage their mental health with confidence and ease. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904#videoobject","name":"TMS for Depression: How It Works and One Patient's Experience","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/0cf69a7f-ff5e-4a6d-9539-7f87a9782eaf/9a178a2f-b68a-4a47-b8de-be971cd244bb/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2021-05-13T17:26:55.093Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6254066810001","description":"After years of medication for his depression, James turned to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for a way to start feeling better. With the help of the Sutter Center for Psychiatry, he was able to lower his dosage for antidepressants.","duration":"PT2M40S","transcript":"JAMES WEAVER: With depression comes a lot of isolation.\nYou don't want to be around other people.\nI tried a lot of types of therapy--\ntalk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapies,\nmedications.\nIt took them five or six different medications\nto find one that stuck, and they were still\nwanting to increase it.\nI was also self-medicating with alcohol--\nthe depression, the anxiety that PTSD was destroying my life.\nMARIA WEAVER: It's been a struggle for me\nto watch him go through this, but to watch it kind of chisel\naway at who I knew him to be.\nJAMES WEAVER: This was really the first opportunity\nI had to try something that would\nundo the actual physical damage to my brain because\nof the traumas.\nI was hoping for anything that they could do for me.\nWhat I got was way beyond that.\n\nLAUREN MARASA: At Sutter Center for Psychiatry,\nwe are very invested in our patients and their families\nand their outcomes to live their life to the fullest.\nTMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.\nDuring treatment, a magnetic coil\ngenerates an electromagnetic field\nthat essentially turns on the neurons\nand causes them to fire in areas of the brain that\nare considered underactive in depression.\nTMS is a very good option when patients\nwith clinical depression have not\nresponded to traditional medications or psychotherapy.\nJames came to us after having experienced a variety of trauma\nin his life and career.\nDuring the course of his treatment,\nwe were able to reduce his antidepressant\nfrom 70 milligrams, which was very high doses, down\nto 20 milligrams.\nJAMES WEAVER: The doctor was doing a very aggressive\nmedication reduction.\nAnd when I felt no side effects from it,\nthat was truly the first indication\nthat I had that it was working.\nOne of the things that I noticed was\nthat I wanted to be around people again.\nMARIA WEAVER: To see that shine come back\nand watching it slowly come back and seeing glimpses\nof who he was and who I know him to be,\nI can't even describe it.\n\nJAMES WEAVER: I would absolutely recommend this treatment\nto anyone suffering from any kind of depression or anxiety.\nIt's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it.\n[MUSIC PLAYING]"} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904#article","name":"Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail","headline":"Hospital Offers Hope When Other Depression Therapies Fail","abstract":"After years of medication for his depression, James turned to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for a way to start feeling better.","description":"After years of medication for his depression, James turned to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for a way to start feeling better.","keywords":["Mental health","Behavioral health care","Mental Health"],"datePublished":"2024-05-15","dateModified":"2026-01-22","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/T8o_1_PR9On753YLCdW0M-OeEi0yTyTVFNvLdBRTnNo/fit=crop,gravity=auto,width=1200,height=630"},"video":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospital-offers-hope-when-other-depression-therapies-fail-2023563904#videoobject"},"articleBody":"James Weaver had depression and anxiety caused by a variety of traumas in his life and career. Traditional psychiatric therapies weren’t working, so he turned to Sutter Center for Psychiatry in Sacramento for advanced treatment. The region’s premier psychiatric hospital and outpatient center had the right therapy for him: transcranial magnetic stimulation, also known as TMS. It is a non-invasive, interventional option for those dealing with major depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven’t responded to traditional medications or psychotherapy. Sutter Center for Psychiatry interventional psychiatrist Dr. Hammad Khan shows how the newest TMS chair will be providing safe, non-invasive treatments in just a week for those suffering depression and other psychiatric conditions. Weaver’s two-month TMS treatment worked. “I was hoping for anything that they could do for me,” Weaver says. “What I got was so way beyond that.” Now, Sutter Center for Psychiatry has launched an accelerated TMS program that will compress the traditional six- to eight-week TMS treatment down to one week. It is the latest tool from the interventional psychiatry department at Sutter Center for Psychiatry, which is the only hospital in the Sacramento region that has both TMS and its sister therapy — electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT — for those who aren’t responding to traditional psychiatric treatments. The dual approach of ECT and TMS highlights the comprehensive nature of Sutter’s offerings. ECT is known for its effectiveness in rapidly alleviating severe depressive symptoms and other acute mental health conditions. It involves administering a controlled electrical stimulus to the brain under anesthesia. On the other hand, TMS offers a non-invasive alternative, using magnetic waves to target brain areas involved in mood regulation, allowing patients to remain awake with minimal side effects. New Accelerated TMS Program Approved by the FDA in 2019, accelerated TMS therapy occurs over two weeks or less, with three to five sessions conducted each day. “The accelerated program is tailored for patients seeking quick results and those who are not suitable candidates for ECT due to potential anesthesia side effects,” said Dr. Hammad Khan, Sutter Center for Psychiatry’s director of interventional psychiatry. Both traditional and accelerated TMS employ the same magnetic brain stimulation technique but differ mainly in their treatment schedules. Despite the intensity of the treatments, patients generally feel normal afterward and can return to their regular activities immediately. Community Involvement Expands Services Community support, including significant contributions from the Thomas P. Raley Foundation, has been instrumental in creating a new Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at Sutter. The effort will merge inpatient and outpatient services, enhancing Sutter’s ability to treat a wider range of conditions and reinforcing its role as a leader in mental health services in the region. A generous gift from the Thomas S. Raley Foundation establishes the Joyce Raley Teel Outpatient Center at Sutter Center for Psychiatry. “It’s uplifting to know that you’re not alone in this journey and you can actually become the voice of the voiceless,” said Sutter Center for Psychiatry Chief Medical Executive Dr. Ozra Nobari. During this Mental Health Awareness Month in May, expanded care options at Sutter Health and its Sutter Center for Psychiatry bring healing and hope. It did for James Weaver. He says he would highly recommend the TMS treatment he received to anyone in a similar position. His wife, Maria, agrees. “To see that shine come back … and seeing glimpses of who he was and who I know him to be,” she says, “I can’t even describe it.” Sutter has five inpatient care centers for mental health and addiction care across Northern California. These hospital-based and freestanding care sites offer 216 beds to serve patients requiring 24-hour care. Sutter also has eight outpatient care centers that provide mental health and addiction care services in our communities. Learn more about Sutter Center for Psychiatry or call 916-386-3620.","mentions":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-hammad-khan-1046250852#Person","name":"Hammad Khan, M.D."},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider/dr-ozra-eslampanah-nobari-1046249625#Person","name":"Ozra Eslampanah Nobari, M.D."}]} ```