TMS, a Non Invasive Treatment for Depression

Medical professionals typically recommend medication and talk therapy as standard treatments for depression. However, if this method does not work effectively, a psychiatrist may offer other therapies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as a non-invasive treatment. An individual receiving TMS has a magnetic coil held against their head. This coil may stimulate neurons deep inside the brain by sending a magnetic pulse through the skull.

Understanding how TMS works

TMS involves the fast delivery of individual electric pulses by a medical professional. This method can cause changes in your brain that will endure longer. These magnetic pulses are identical in kind and intensity to those produced by an MRI scanner. They are painless and undetectable to the human senses.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is the target for treatment during TMS for depression. This brain region handles different cognitive functions, such as memory, emotion, and conflict resolution. However, it is often dysregulated in people with depression. People with this dysregulation may struggle with maintaining emotional control, forming sound judgments, and maintaining focused attention.

Researchers think that sending magnetic pulses to this brain region may alter nerve cell firing patterns. So, it might help lessen the impact of depression on the patient's life. Furthermore, left and proper brain stimulation may have different outcomes. For example, some studies have shown that right-sided low-frequency stimulation is more helpful for depression than left-sided high-frequency stimulation.

Although most patients feel better after TMS treatment, the antidepressant effects may fade off after a while. More study is needed to determine TMS's efficacy as a long-term therapy method. However, a 2018 review in the Brain Stimulation Journal found that up to 50 percent of participants continued to react to treatment 12 months after the first treatment.

The TMS Procedure

The TMS treatment process is done on an outpatient basis in the psychiatrist's office, and patients are free to go home the same day. Before starting the procedure, TMS therapy requires the patient to empty their pockets of any metal objects, including coins, jewels, and credit cards. All fall under this category. Patients may also need to insert earplugs to protect their hearing before the treatment commences.

A new, evidence-based treatment for depression, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, employs non-invasive magnetic pulses to activate specific brain regions, reducing depressive symptoms. Yet it is crucial to understand that outcomes vary from person to person. Also, the chances of remission are higher with TMS than with other treatment options.

Do not wait to seek treatment

Antidepressants are often used to treat depression. However, they are not always successful. TMS has proven to be the more successful non-invasive treatment. It is also considered a safe and low-risk choice since it does not involve taking pills or injecting anything into your body. And since it is an outpatient surgery that does not require hospitalization, patients may resume their everyday lives immediately. Patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression can visit a psychiatrist to learn more about TMS treatment.
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