How Neuromodulation is Reshaping the Treatment of Resistant Mental Health

For decades, the landscape of psychiatric care has remained relatively static, dominated by the long-standing and familiar regimen of antidepressants, SSRIs, and psychotherapy techniques. While these continue to be effective for many, there remains a significant segment of the population that grapples with treatment-resistant depression, suicidality, and complex anxiety disorders.

With traditional medical interventions rendered ineffective for those suffering from such mental disorders, they're often left feeling like they have no viable options. This absence of hope further exacerbates their condition, often compounding their emotional experience.

But now, a quiet transformation has been taking place, bringing a wave of evidence-backed group of therapies, collectively known as neuromodulation, that is changing the reality and offering a breakthrough for patients long left at the margins of traditional care.

Michigan Advanced Psychiatry, a mental health treatment clinic that prioritizes patient care over all else, has made it its mission to normalize and expand access to interventional psychiatry and, in doing so, be the beacon of hope for those seeking it. It offers non-invasive neuromodulation therapies such as Spravato (esketamine), IV ketamine infusions, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulations (TMS).

Contrary to popular belief, these modalities are not experimental outliers. They are FDA-approved, protocol-driven interventions with substantial clinical research backing them. And more importantly, they're known to offer rapid, measurable relief to patients who had all but given up on treatment.

"Psychotherapy and pharmacology remain the gold standard to start treatment," says Dr. Drew Schmale, co-founder and board-certified psychiatrist at Michigan Advanced Psychiatry. "But when patients haven't succeeded with the traditional course of treatment, and particularly when suicidality is present, continuing down the same path becomes ineffective, and at times, dangerous. That's where neuromodulation needs to be administered much earlier."

Ketamine, or ketamine products like Spravato (esketamine), one of the neuromodulation modalities the company has worked with, has shown remarkable efficacy in patients experiencing major depression and acute suicidal ideation. Unlike conventional antidepressants, which often take weeks to stabilize mood, ketamine's effects have the potential to manifest within hours. Its quick results make it an effective crisis intervention tool available in psychiatry today.

"When we have an intervention this powerful, withholding it during a psychiatric crisis becomes a question of ethics," Schmale notes. "We shouldn't be okay with allowing people to stay in any state of suffering for long. Ketamine isn't just treating symptoms; it has the power to save lives."

Similarly, TMS is another compelling alternative for those seeking non-pharmaceutical interventions. "A lot of people these days are more interested in non-pharmaceutical options that have very minimal side effects," says Dane Reinhart, co-founder of Michigan Advanced Psychiatry. "And TMS is a great answer for that."

Unlike Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT), which it's often mistaken for, TMS is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive regions of the brain contributing to depression. There's no anesthesia, no systemic side effects, and patients are able to drive themselves to and from the appointment. "It's about a 20-minute session. You walk in, get the treatment, and walk out. The accessibility and minimal disruption to daily life are a game-changer, and our goal has always been to make it widely available," Reinhart states.

Access remains central to Michigan Advanced Psychiatry's foundation, and they've developed a multi-faceted approach to bring that to fruition. The treatments themselves are costly, but the clinic works tirelessly to navigate the entire insurance authorization process, securing coverage for patients. In most cases, this results in patients paying only a modest co-pay for their treatments.

For those whose insurance coverage is denied, delayed, or unavailable, they remain committed to providing care. Outside of Spravato and TMS, the clinic offers off-label treatment options, such as IV ketamine, to ensure patients can still receive the help they need. To further remove financial obstacles, they provide flexible payment plans tailored to individual circumstances. "We never want cost to be the barrier," Reinhart says. "Our systems are designed to prioritize patient care above all else."

The need for these interventions is global. As Schmale explains, "Mental health treatment has been stagnant for decades. We've recycled the same class of medications under different brand names, hoping for different outcomes. Neuromodulation represents the first meaningful leap forward in a generation."

And its benefits stretch well beyond depression.

While the clinic currently focuses on depressive disorders, anxiety, OCD, and trauma-related conditions, the science behind neuromodulation is already showing promise across a wider psychiatric spectrum, from bipolar disorder to early-stage psychosis.

While both Schmale and Reinhart are quick to note that psychotherapy, medication management, and community-based support still hold substantial value, they believe the future of psychiatry will lie in a more integrated, personalized approach, one that knows when to pivot and how to leverage the best available science at the right moment.

"What we're trying to do is evolve without abandoning the roots of our discipline," Schmale adds. "This field must move forward responsibly. Otherwise, it's our patients who pay the price for inertia."

At Michigan Advanced Psychiatry, that forward motion is not just philosophy, it's a prerogative. As more providers, insurers, and healthcare systems align around the potential of neuromodulation, Michigan Advanced Psychiatry has established that treatment-resistant no longer means untreatable. The tools exist. The data is here. And for the first time in a long time, psychiatry is not just managing illness; it has the ability to heal them.