What is TMS Therapy and How Does It Work?
TMS is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that relies on electromagnetic induction by using an insulated coil is placed over the scalp. It is focused on a particular area of the brain that plays a role in mood regulation. What the coil does is generates brief magnetic pulses, which pass easily and painless through the skull and into the brain. There is no need worry. It is completely safe. The pulses that are generated are of the same type and strath that is made by MRI machines. When these pulses are sent to the brain, the pulses are administered in rapid succession. It is called repetitive TMS or rTMS that can produce longer lasting changes in brain activity.
What is TMS Therapy and How Does It Work?
TMS is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that relies on electromagnetic induction by using an insulated coil is placed over the scalp. It is focused on a particular area of the brain that plays a role in mood regulation. What the coil does is generates brief magnetic pulses, which pass easily and painless through the skull and into the brain. There is no need worry. It is completely safe. The pulses that are generated are of the same type and strath that is made by MRI machines. When these pulses are sent to the brain, the pulses are administered in rapid succession. It is called repetitive TMS or rTMS that can produce longer lasting changes in brain activity.
TMS is mainly used to treat severe depression. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is usually recommended specifically after medication and psychotherapy fail to work. Doctors suggest taking at least one round of prescription antidepressants before exploring the possibility of TMS. Antidepressants and psychotherapy may be used in combination with TMS.
The most qualified candidates for TMS are people who suffer from depression who haven’t had success with other methods. This includes prescription drugs. Individuals who are not in good enough health for a procedure such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might be better candidates for TMS. This is true for those who have a higher risk of seizures or may not tolerate anesthesia, which is needed for ECT.
Why is Magnetic Therapy So Easy?
As previously stated, this treatment is extremely safe and painless. Here are some reasons why this advanced therapy is efficient to you:
- Therapy sessions are conducted in the comfort of your doctor’s office.
- You can return back to your normal daily tasks, immediately.
- There is no time wasted for recovery.
- You stay awake during the entire duration of the treatment.
- There are no negative effects on memory or sleep.
- It is covered by most health insurance plans. This includes Medicare and Tricare.
- There are more than 1 million treatments that are performed each year. This means that TMS therapy us bringing new hope to people every day.
Some minor side effects may be associated with the treatment. They include the following:
- Feeling of lightheadedness
- Temporary hearing problems, due to loud magnet noise
- Mild headaches
- Tingling in the face, jaw, or scalp
- Keep in mind that these symptoms are all temporary. Think about the longevity of the lasting effects. They are well worth it.
Depression treatment With TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS treatment is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. The exact cause of depression is usually defined as an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters. These are essentially chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. While the debate of the exact cause of depression continues, the fight to successful treat patients with this illness continues to evolve. Doctors such as those at Neurosciences Medical Clinic in Miami, Florida are working diligently to practice new exercises to help those suffering from depression. We have found that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatment is one of the simplest and safest methods for those patients who do not see success with typical treatments such as psychotherapy and medication. TMS presents a new opportunity to help patients with depression with a high success rate.
Studies of Depression and TMS
This neurological method is well established diagnostic method. In one study, fifteen patients diagnosed with Major Depression (DSM‐III‐R) were submitted for TMS treatment. Ten of those patients were randomly placed into two groups and treated with 250 transcranial magnetic stimuli/session for five consecutive days. The assessment concluded that here was an improvement of depressive symptoms in both groups. Overall, the doctors in this studied stated that data acquired from this study suggests that TMS might indeed have a relevant anti depressive efficacy.
Depression Treatment with TMS
During the actual procedure, a powerful magnetic coil (similar to that of a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI) is used to stimulate your brain’s nerve cells in the hopes this will balance out the chemicals. It specifically targets the area of the brain that controls thoughts and moods. These magnetic transmitters generally have a positive effect on the patient’s mood, making long-term treatment possible. In fact, it has been suggested that TMS can potentially lead to complete remission so that the patient no longer needs assistance in aiding their depression.
The Process
The process of TMS treatment is relatively simple. You will recline in one of Neurosciences Medical Clinic’s reclining chairs while one of our technicians places a coil around your forehead. Then we will focus the magnetic stimulators on specific points to target areas of the brain. You may feel a slight tapping and hear clicking during this process. After treatment, you will be able to go about your normal daily activities. There are no immediate side effects to this treatment so you are able to drive to and from your appointment. It is as easy as getting a check up!
Positive Outcomes
There have been millions of TMS treatments performed on patients. It is one of the few advanced medical therapies that has been able to climb to such a number. This is not only because of the continued success of treating depression with this type of method, but because of patient willingness to comply because of it’s subtle process. This procedure is non-surgical and noninvasive. It has little side effects and most patients see positive outcomes after their sessions.
Contact Neurosciences Medical Clinic in Miami, Florida to schedule your TMS treatment today!
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