How Does The Tms Treatment For Depression Work?
A treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) changes the way the brain works by using a magnetic field. It can help people with sorrow, OCD, and other brain-related problems. It is not painful and can help when other treatments aren’t working. The effects are usually mild and only last for a short time. You can get help for depression. But for certain individuals, conventional remedies are ineffective. Medications and verbal therapy, also known as psychotherapy, may not work when normal treatments like repetitive TMS are tried. So for these patients, Tms treatment for depression is proven to be effective.
How Does TMS Work?
The therapy is administered by a TMS technologist or physician. The process doesn’t require a hospital stay, so it could be done in a medical clinic. Hospitals will do it, so you won’t have to stay overnight. Remove anything that is sensitive to magnets, like jewelry, before the process. During TMS, these things normally happen:
- Earplugs will be given to you by your expert to block out the clicking sound of the magnetic impulses. You will be asked to sit down in a nice chair. There will be no need for general anesthesia, and you will be awake during the process.
- Your technician will measure your head to figure out where to put the magnetic coil if this is your initial instruction. In order to make the TMS machine work best for you, they will also take other measures.
- The coil will be placed above the front of your brain by your technician. Afterward, the treatment will commence.
- An audible clicking sound will be heard as the magnetic impulses are discharged. You will also hear or feel something tapping or banging under the magnetic coil.
- For about 4 to 6 weeks, you’ll have to do the process again five days a week. The exact length of your treatment will depend on how well you respond and what your situation is.
What Are The Benefits of TMS?
- Effective: When antidepressants and behavioral therapy haven’t helped treat anxiety, TMS therapy for depression has been shown to be at least twice as effective as other methods.
- Safe: All of our treatment plans have been cleared by the FDA and meet the strictest safety standards. There aren’t many side effects from TMS.
- Targeted: TMS is used on parts of the brain that look different in depressed people. Many people who take antidepressants also like not having the side effects that come with them.
- Personalized: The tms treatment for depression is tailored to your brain and can be changed based on how you respond.
Are These Therapies Good for Everyone?
People who are depressed often choose TMS treatments for one or more of the reasons below:
- Previous treatments, such as antidepressants and therapy, have not worked or were not enough for the person.
- Side effects mean that medicines can’t properly treat a person.
- The person does not want to take antidepressants and would rather have TMS.
Just like any other health treatment, these don’t work for everyone. People should get a full medical and psychiatric review to find out if a certain neurostimulation treatment will work for them. TMS for depression should not be given until a doctor has been fully consulted.
How Well Does TMS Work?
About 50 to 60 percent of depressed people who have tried and failed to get better with medications have a clinically meaningful reaction to TMS. Some patients experience full recovery. It is important to remember that these effects, while good, won’t last forever. As with most other treatments for mood disorders, there is a high chance that the problem will come back. But after stopping TMS treatment, most people feel better for a long time. The average length of reaction is a little more than a year. Some people will decide to come back for more treatment. For those who do not respond to Tms for depression, ECT may still be effective and is frequently a viable option.
Duration of TMS Effects?
Most of the patients feel better for 6 to 9 months after their last treatment. Some people feel better for years, while others come back for more treatments after a few months of being healthy. The healing benefits of TMS tend to last longer for people who take the right medications and make lifestyle choices that help them stay in a better mood. Additionally, some people may benefit from a type of “maintenance” TMS to help them avoid returns, which we do offer in some cases.
Do Other Diseases Respond Well to TMS?
A lot of research is being done on TMS across many disorders and even fields of study in the hopes that it will lead to new ways to help neurological disorders, pain, and physical rehabilitation, in addition to psychiatry. At the moment, there are significant clinical studies looking at how well TMS works for conditions like bipolar disorder, pediatric depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, quitting smoking, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although these conditions are interesting areas for research, TMS has not yet been approved for them and would be called “off-label.” Also magnetic therapy for depression has good effects on boosting mood and mental abilities and is often used to treat major depressive disorders.
TMS Side Effects
The side effects of TMS therapy in Dallas are not common. If problems do arise, they might include the following:
- Mild migraines
- Feeling dizzy
- Headache
- Having pain in your neck
- Twitching of the face
- Drowsiness
- Alteration of cognition during treatment
It’s common for headaches and dizziness to go away after a few doses. Aside from that, there is a small chance of having seizures. While getting TMS treatment, there is a 0.1 percent chance of having seizures.
Last Words
TMS treatment for depression can help people who are anxious, especially when other treatments have failed. TMS can assist in removing the gripping darkness of depression by using magnetic fields to stimulate specific regions of the brain. Many people find relief in this choice, which opens up a new way to get back to a better, more balanced life. If you want an alternative method to deal with your depression, TMS could be the key to a better, more healthy and happy future.