Have you ever heard of transcranial magnetic therapy (TMS)? It’s a type of treatment for depression. TMS is most commonly used to treat people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Treatment-resistant depression is characterized by an insufficient response to at least two trials of antidepressants. If these don’t work, alternatives like transcranial magnetic stimulation come into play.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation involves sending pulses of magnetic energy to specific areas of the brain. The goal is to target brain areas involved in mood regulation. Over time, these magnetic pulse treatments are designed to reduce the significance of depression symptoms. Ultimately, they should improve quality of life. If you’ve never undergone a TMS therapy session, you might be interested to know the pros and cons, which you can read about below.
What are the pros of TMS therapy that you should know about?
There are several pros of TMS therapy that each patient should know about. These advantages make TMS a better treatment option than many other methods. But don’t just take it from us. Here are some TMS therapy pros that should make the treatment worth it to you:
- It’s a noninvasive treatment method — One of the biggest pros of transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy is that it’s noninvasive. The coils are applied to the outside of the head via a medical device, not under the skin. Unlike other brain stimulation therapies, no injections or incisions are necessary.
- It’s been shown to be effective in treating depression — Another pro of TMS therapy is that it’s effective for those diagnosed with clinical depression. Around 79% of our patients show greater than 25% reduction in depression symptoms, and 56% of our patients experience a 50% reduction in depression.
- It doesn’t require any use of an anesthetic — TMS therapy doesn’t require an anesthetic during the session, unlike electroconvulsive therapy. The discomfort occasionally experienced during TMS sessions typically isn’t significant enough to require pain-relieving medication.
- TMS therapy is an outpatient treatment — Patients are able to drive themselves to and from their appointment and can return to normal activities after each session.
- TMS is covered by insurance.
What are the cons of TMS therapy that you should also know about?
While there are many pros associated with TMS therapy, there are also some cons that patients should be aware of before deciding to start:
- It can become a time commitment — While sessions themselves don’t take very long — only about 30 minutes after the initial session — the typical course of treatment is six weeks followed by a taper of a few more weeks.
- It may cause temporary side effects — TMS therapy can also present a few side effects, including scalp discomfort and headaches. However, most of these side effects are quick to wear off.
Our team at Active Path Mental Health is ready to help improve your depressive symptoms through TMS therapy
Major depressive disorder can cause a person to feel as if their life is spiraling out of control. Treatment-resistant depression can affect your ability to perform everyday tasks. Not only that, but it can reduce the quality of your personal relationships and your workplace performance and can be costly to treat over time. Fortunately, treatment from our Active Path team can help address many of these problems. We’ll work with you to get a stronger hold on your TRD symptoms and improve the quality of your life. Let us help you work toward a better future.
Active Path Mental Health is proud to say that patients can receive treatment from locations in both Oregon and Washington. The team members at each one of our locations are dedicated to helping patients recover from their mental health disorders. But don’t just take it from us, take it from our patient reviews.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
