New outcomes data from Discovery Texas Interventional Psychiatry (DTIP), our sister provider under Discovery MSO, shows just how much progress is possible with TMS therapy for depression. Among clients with a complete PHQ-9 record at intake and discharge, the average depression score fell 73 percent, and 95 percent of clients left treatment in the minimal or mild symptom range. If you or someone you love is dealing with depression alongside substance use, this is worth understanding, because DPR clients can access TMS through DTIP as part of coordinated, cross-provider care.
What the Numbers Show
Among the 22 DTIP clients with a documented PHQ-9 depression score at both intake and discharge during the reporting period, the average score dropped from 17.4 to 4.7, a 73 percent reduction. Eighty-six percent of clients achieved a clinical response (at least a 50 percent drop from baseline), and 45 percent reached remission (a discharge score below 5).
Nearly everyone in this group started treatment in the moderate-to-severe range. Six clients began at the severe level and 12 at moderately severe. By discharge, 21 of the 22 had moved into the minimal or mild bands, the two lowest severity levels the PHQ-9 measures. No client with a complete record ended treatment scoring higher than when they started.
“These numbers reflect what we see clinically every week: people who felt stuck after trying medication are able to make real, measurable progress with TMS. When 95 percent of our clients leave treatment in the minimal or mild range, that’s not an abstraction, that’s people getting their lives back.”
Michael Banis, Chief Growth Officer, Discovery MSO
How to Read These Numbers
The PHQ-9 is a nine-question self-report questionnaire that scores depression severity from 0 to 27. Scores of 0 to 4 fall in the minimal range, 5 to 9 in the mild range, 10 to 14 in the moderate range, 15 to 19 in the moderately severe range, and 20 to 27 in the severe range. The instrument was described in a widely cited 2001 validation paper (see References). When this article says 21 of 22 clients ended treatment in the minimal or mild bands, it means their discharge scores fell at or below 9.
Two terms are worth knowing. A clinical response means a drop of at least 50 percent from the starting score. Remission means a discharge score below 5. The 86 percent response figure and the 45 percent remission figure describe different thresholds, which is why remission is the smaller number.
What These Numbers Do Not Show
These figures come from 22 clients who had a documented PHQ-9 at both intake and discharge during the reporting period. That is a small group, and it only includes people with complete records. There is no comparison group, so the data cannot say how these clients would have done without TMS, and it cannot be treated as a controlled trial. Individual results vary, and a good result for this group does not predict a result for any one person. We share the numbers because they are what DTIP measured, and because being clear about their limits is part of reporting them honestly.
What Is TMS Therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is an FDA-cleared, non-drug treatment for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. There’s no medication and no sedation involved. Most people stay awake through each session and go back to their normal day right after. Individual results vary, and a care team coordinates with each patient’s existing providers throughout treatment.
Why This Matters in Addiction Recovery
Depression and substance use disorders show up together often enough that treating one without looking at the other rarely works long-term. That’s part of why DPR treats co-occurring mental health conditions as a standard part of a full continuum of addiction care, not an afterthought.
DTIP and DPR coordinate care as sister providers under Discovery MSO, so a client working through depression and a substance use disorder at the same time isn’t stuck choosing one problem to treat first.
TMS at Discovery Point Retreat
DPR clients can access TMS therapy through sister clinic DTIP as part of coordinated care, for depression that’s part of the picture alongside substance use. Outcomes for clients referred through DPR may differ from DTIP’s broader reported cohort above, since co-occurring substance use adds complexity, but the underlying approach, an FDA-cleared, non-drug option for depression that hasn’t responded to other treatment, is the same.
If depression has been part of what’s kept you stuck, or you’re supporting someone who’s dealing with both, it’s worth asking whether TMS could be part of the plan.
We’re here to make treatment as accessible and affordable as possible — and are in network with many insurance providers. Not sure about your coverage? We can help.
Who Might Ask About TMS
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, brain stimulation therapies such as TMS are generally discussed for people whose depression has not improved enough with other treatment, including medication. Some people also look at it because they would prefer a non-drug option. Whether it fits depends on a clinical evaluation, your history, and what you are already receiving. If depression is part of the picture alongside substance use, it helps to raise it early, since the two can affect each other. You can read more about how we approach this on our page about co-occurring mental health conditions.
When to Reach Out for Help
As general guidance, consider reaching out if low mood, loss of interest, poor sleep, or hopelessness has lasted more than a couple of weeks, if depression is getting in the way of work, relationships, or recovery, or if you have noticed that substance use is increasing as a way to cope. If you or someone near you is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 for an emergency.
Talking With a Professional
A clinician can review your symptoms, your treatment history, and any medications before recommending a next step. Come with questions: what the evaluation involves, how TMS would fit with the care you already have, and how your providers would coordinate. Asking for an evaluation does not commit you to treatment.
Related Reading
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy for Depression
- How Effectively Does Rehab Treat Depression? DPR’s Clinical Data
- Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 73 percent reduction mean?
It is the drop in the group’s average PHQ-9 score, from 17.4 at intake to 4.7 at discharge. It describes the average across 22 clients, not every individual.
Is TMS a medication?
No. TMS is an FDA-cleared, non-drug treatment that uses magnetic pulses. There is no sedation involved, and most people stay awake during sessions.
Can I get TMS if I am in treatment for substance use?
DPR clients can access TMS through sister clinic DTIP as part of coordinated care. Whether it is appropriate is decided in a clinical evaluation.
Will I get the same results as the group in this data?
Not necessarily. Outcomes for clients referred through DPR may differ from DTIP’s broader reported group, since co-occurring substance use adds complexity.
References
- Discovery Texas Interventional Psychiatry. TMS Program Outcomes Data (internal clinical reporting, PHQ-9 intake/discharge records, on file).
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606-613. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Summary K083538, NeuroStar TMS Therapy System (Neuronetics), 2008. Accessed September 2026. accessdata.fda.gov
- National Institute of Mental Health. Brain Stimulation Therapies. Accessed September 2026. nimh.nih.gov
Resources
If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. This article is educational information, not medical advice.
To talk through whether TMS could be part of your plan, Discovery Point Retreat offers a free, no-commitment consultation. Call (855) 635-4776.
