TMS is Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Treatment for Depression

Standard treatments for depression, including medication and psychotherapy, fail to alleviate symptoms for 35 percent of patients. In addition to being a financial and social drain on society, the patient, and their support network, depression is one of the most prevalent mental health issues. This situation calls for more efficient non-invasive psychiatry treatments for depression. The most significant of these modern brain stimulation techniques for depression treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

TMS as a depression treatment

Transcranial magnetic stimulation depends on two fundamental elements of physics: electricity and magnetism. TMS involves the interplay between these two ideas, which may also function together.

During TMS, magnetic pulses stimulate specific areas of the brain. Around 30 to 40 percent of patients exhibit improvement after receiving recurrent TMS, according to meta-analyses. About 20 to 30 percent of the cases go into remission. New treatment procedures and variants of the standard TMS approach have emerged as a result of this research. After the patient has undergone two steps of the depression treatment process, the mental health professional will typically suggest using TMS as an adjunctive therapy.

When used in conjunction with psychosocial intervention, TMS is very effective at reducing moderate to severe symptoms of depression. However, consistent findings and a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanism for depression treatment with TMS in tandem with psychosocial psychotherapy need more well-designed investigations.

The need for TMS

Depression is a significant public health problem all over the globe. Even after taking antidepressants, almost two-thirds of those affected by depression still feel its effects. Further, research has indicated that the likelihood of receiving complete symptom alleviation reduces with each subsequent pharmaceutical try. When conventional psychotherapy and medicine have failed, TMS might provide welcome relief. Since it does not call for drugs or surgery, TMS is often chosen over esketamine and ECT. TMS also has fewer adverse effects than esketamine or ECT, and patients may drive themselves to and from treatment.

TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy for individuals with mental or neurological illnesses whose symptoms have not improved with conventional care. In 2008, TMS for treatment-resistant depression received FDA approval in the United States. Since then, the FDA has also authorized TMS for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines, smoking addiction, and brain mapping before neurosurgery.

The FDA has designated TMS as a breakthrough device for treating bipolar depression, although the agency has not yet approved it for this use.

The typical side effects of TMS

Minor headaches and lightheadedness are common adverse effects. A seizure is the most severe possible negative effect related to TMS. Studies have indicated that TMS seizures are quite rare, and most occur in individuals with recognized risk factors for seizures. Recent investigations have suggested that TMS is equivalent to other antidepressant medicines regarding seizure risk.

Call us to learn more

TMS works as a non-invasive psychiatric treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Before recommending this procedure, the psychiatrist will perform the necessary evaluation to ensure the patient's eligibility and safety. Book an appointment today to learn more.

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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