Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
TMS provides relief for patients who have tried medication, traditional therapy, and other alternative methods with little to no results.
It’s also for patients who need something extra to help treat their depression, ALONG with traditional methods.
Simply put, TMS is for anyone who is experiencing difficulty finding relief from their depression and anxiety symptoms. For those who have tried multiple depression medications, struggled to “click” with a therapist, or haven’t found something that resonates with them when it comes to overcoming depression, TMS offers solutions.
By targeting the physical structures involved in depression and anxiety, TMS aims to offer long term, life changing care to those who are seeking treatment.
TMS works by doing
the following:
Stimulating neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex through magnetic coils
“Strengthening” the part of the brain responsible for managing depressive symptoms
Allowing the patient minimal pain, short treatments, and lower risk than most depression medication
Giving patients the power to schedule their treatments without the worry of anesthesia use
Stronger neurons can lead to to reduced depression symptoms. TMS works by stimulating the neurons in the area of the brain that depression impacts the most.
The practitioner and technician will work to find the best resting position for your treatment. The chair is easily adjustable, allowing you to relax while we administer the treatment- you’re able to read, watch TV, or just take a moment for yourself.
Throughout the course of treatment, patients may report feelings of fatigue and slight headache, but these tend to subside as treatment progresses. As the minor side effects wane, patients begin to see positive results in the form of clearer cognition, a “lift” in their depression and anxiety, and overall relief from their symptoms.
Treatment lasts between 4-6 weeks. We work with patients to figure out the best schedule to fit their busy lives, and we understand that flexibility is an important part of patient comfort during treatment.
We start by mapping the brain, determining with precise measurements the best site for treatment. This is tailored to the individual patient, as everyone is different! No two brains are alike.
Next, we determine your Motor Threshold. This percentage tells us how much stimulation you will need. We find this by measuring movement in your right hand, which is controlled by the motor cortex in the brain. The mapping process takes between 15-20 minutes, and it is easy and painless for the patient.
Tms by the numbers
Here are some of the astounding results of TMS studies from the last two decades. FDA approved since 2008, TMS is changing the landscape of how psychological practitioners treat mental illness, trauma and other disorders affecting the brain’s health and well-being.
A small study of a new, intensive form of TMS called Stanford neuromodulation therapy, published in October 2021 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, found rapid improvement in nearly 80% of the 29 participants, all with severe, treatment-resistant depression. This form of TMS, which involves 10 TMS sessions per day, will be evaluated in large clinical trials to determine if it is suitable for standard TMS practice.
“A randomized clinical trial with data supporting TMS treatment was published in 2007, showing about 24% of depressed patients responded to the treatment. A subsequent trial, funded by the NIMH, was published in May 2010. During the first study phase, about 15% of participants achieved remission – a symptom-free period in their depression. During the second study phase, nearly 30% experienced remission.
A meta-analysis of 81 studies encompassing nearly 4,250 patients treated with various types of TMS, published in February 2017 in JAMA Psychiatry, found all types more effective, and at least as tolerable, as sham (placebo) TMS treatment for major depressive episodes.
The Three-D study, published in April 2018 in The Lancet, which compared rTMS and iTBS, found them equally safe, tolerable and effective in treating patients with major depressive disorders.”
A meta-analysis of 10 studies encompassing nearly 700 patients, published in May 2021 in the journal Translational Psychiatry, found a similar, positive effect rates for both rTMS and theta burst stimulation compared to sham TMS treatment for major depressive disorder.
A study of 700 U.S. military veterans, appearing in the January 2022 issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders, found TMS was effective in treating veterans with major depressive disorder, including participants with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.”
Source: -https://health.usnews.com/conditions/articles/tms-therapy-