When a patient is diagnosed with a condition such as depression or anxiety, the first treatments administered are usually counseling and medication. Many patients experience improvement from these standard treatments but in some cases, improvement does not occur. These patients may benefit from interventional tools that offer direct brain stimulation.
The Interventional Psychiatry Program at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health provides specialized treatments for patients who have psychiatric conditions that are not successfully responding to typical "first-line" treatment options.
Patients receive treatment in an outpatient setting near the James Street Lobby of Lancaster General Hospital. It is located alongside the Endoscopy Department. Our current hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm.
A physician referral, as well as a consult with our interventional psychiatry team, is required for this program.
The Interventional Psychiatry Program is currently offering TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Therapy, intranasal esketamine therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Intravenous (IV) ketamine treatment will be offered in the near future.
TMS Therapy
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) therapy offers safe, proven, non-drug treatment for depression. If you or a loved one is living with depression, and the symptoms are interfering with your daily life, TMS Therapy may be the answer.
NeuroStar® TMS Therapy is the first and only FDA-cleared TMS therapy device for the treatment of major depression in adults who have tried antidepressants and not achieved satisfactory results.
How Does TMS Therapy Work?
TMS therapy is an outpatient procedure our physicians perform right in the office with no anesthesia or sedation needed. You are comfortably seated while the device delivers magnetic pulses to the left prefrontal cortex of the brain—an area that may be underactive in people with depression.
Each session is less than 20 minutes, and patients may immediately resume normal activities. Typical treatments are five days a week for seven weeks.
Safe and Effective
Because TMS therapy is a drug-free treatment, it doesn't have the side effects often associated with antidepressant medications. The most common side effect is temporary scalp pain or discomfort during active treatment, which usually stops after the first week.
TMS therapy is available by physician referral only. A growing number of insurance plans, including Medicare, have approved coverage for TMS therapy. Finance options are available for self-pay patients.
Intranasal Esketamine Therapy
Ketamine is a medicine that has long been used in the field of anesthesiology. Over time, studies showed it was effective in treating depression and other mood disorders. It is intended for patients whose depression has not responded to other medications or therapy.
SPRAVATO® is the only FDA-approved nasal spray for the treatment of major depression in adults who have tried antidepressants and not achieved satisfactory results.
How Does Intranasal Esketamine Therapy Work
Ketamine can be administered in two ways, being nasal spray or intravenous (IV) infusions. Currently, only intranasal esketamine therapy is being offered in our program.
Intranasal esketamine therapy is administered by nasal spray, which occurs over a series of treatments for a specific period of weeks or months.
Intranasal esketamine therapy is an outpatient procedure that lasts for approximately 2.5 hours, with a nurse monitoring patients' vital signs throughout this observation period. Patients are not allowed to drive following this procedure, due to the risk of sedation. Candidates for esketamine treatments are required to be on at least one antidepressant and are required to undergo some medical screening prior to beginning treatment.
Intranasal esketamine therapy is available by physician referral only. Many insurance plans cover intranasal esketamine therapy, including Medicaid.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a non-invasive treatment for severe psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, psychosis, mania, and catatonia. While under anesthesia, the ECT device delivers predetermined electrical pulses to the brain to create a controlled, generalized seizure. ECT is a safe, effective, and quick acting treatment option.
Referral Information
The Interventional Psychiatry Program is currently accepting physician referrals for both TMS and intranasal esketamine therapy. For more information, please call 717-544-5443.
Once your referral is received, you will be scheduled with an interventional psychiatrist for a consult to determine which treatment is best suited for you. Depending on which service is recommended, you may need to have an additional consultation, medical screening, and authorization from your insurance company before starting treatment.