Candidates for TMS, an Antidepressant Alternative

TMS is a replacement or supplementary depression therapy. As an antidepressant alternative, TMS may be useful for those with depression who fail to get positive results from medication or who have severe side effects such as nausea and insomnia. In addition, patients who find their drugs are only partially successful may benefit from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat their depression.

Patients with depression who are undergoing psychotherapy to learn and practice coping mechanisms may also undergo TMS. With or without medication, a combination of TMS and psychotherapy may be effective in treating MDD-related depression.

Determining a patient's candidacy for TMS

The success of TMS in treating depression is not guaranteed; this is true of any therapy for depression. A consultation with the psychiatrist is necessary to determine whether a person with depression is a candidate for TMS. A patient may try out TMS and other therapy to find the most effective method of treating their depression.

Before beginning TMS treatment, a mental health professional will thoroughly assess the patient's current depression symptoms and medical history. They will then provide the patient with individualized suggestions for treating depression.

If the psychiatrist determines that a person with depression would benefit most from TMS, they may create a treatment plan specifically for them. Those who do not meet the criteria for TMS are offered other forms of depression treatment. However, TMS is effective for depression, and mental health practitioners often advocate combining it with medication, talk therapy, or other depression treatments.

Why a patient may not qualify for TMS

Although transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has a good track record as a therapy for depression, there are several cases in which a patient may not be a good candidate for TMS. TMS is not suggested for treating depression if a physician's physical examination reveals any danger associated with the treatment. Additionally, psychiatrists will investigate other therapies if the patient's psychiatric review concludes that TMS is not the best choice for helping them manage their depressive symptoms.

People with a history of seizures or who have metal implants or things around their heads should avoid TMS therapy. TMS providers or doctors will examine potential patients for health problems or mental items that might disrupt the treatment.

Magnetic energy may damage some kinds of implants. Thus patients who have them should not have TMS therapy. Some medical implants, such as pacemakers, vagus nerve stimulators, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, rely on physiological signals, and TMS may disrupt their functions. Implanted, magnetically sensitive metals in the head or body and are within 12 inches of where the TMS coil would be are also off-limits. Stents placed in the brain or neck, ferromagnetic implants in the area of the eyes or ears, shrapnel or gunshot fragments lodged in the skull, and metallic or magnetically sensitive ink tattoos all fall into this category.

If the implanted metal becomes too hot, shifts position, or malfunctions during TMS treatment, it might cause severe injury or even death. Brackets and fillings made of metal make therapy feasible, nevertheless.

Final Note

Having a strategy to manage depression increases the likelihood of controlling or managing its symptoms. However, TMS might be an antidepressant alternative if the current therapy method does not yield the desired results. Patients interested in this treatment should consult with a psychiatrist to determine eligibility.

Contact us today to learn more or schedule an evaluation to determine whether TMS is right for you.

Request an appointment here: https://nycpsychiatricassociates.com or call NYC Psychiatric Associates at (917) 391-0076 for an appointment in our New York office.

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