People living with depressive disorders may not respond as expected to traditional treatments like prescription antidepressants or even cognitive behavioral therapy. For these individuals, it’s important to identify and utilize methods of treatments that are successful but are not as traditional. One of the most popular and revolutionary tools that is quickly gaining attention in the mental health field is TMS depression treatment. TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a type of treatment that helps people living with depression to alleviate the severity and frequency of depression treatments. And, does so without any major side effects, prescription medications, and no downtime. But, people who are looking for alternative treatments for depression may not know if they’re an ideal candidate for TMS. So, how do you know if TMS is right for you?
Before you can determine if you are a good candidate for TMS, it can help to know what it is in order to establish if this type of treatment may be something you want to consider. Essentially, TMS is a type of brain-based treatment for mood disorders, including depression. It uses a machine that utilizes connectors that attach to the scalp in order to send electromagnetic signals into the brain. These signals are harmless and patients don’t even know they are happening aside from hearing a beeping noise coming from the machine, much like an MRI. The electromagnetic pulses sent into the brain are thought to stimulate areas of the brain that aren’t functioning properly, resulting in various depressive symptoms. This is why this type of treatment may be helpful to people who have not had the results they want from other treatments.
For many people living with treatment-resistant depression, who don’t like the side effects of antidepressant prescription medications, or aren’t getting enough results from traditional treatments, TMS is a great complimentary service to add on to treatment planning. With little risk of side effects, sessions lasting about 45 minutes, and symptom relief after only the first session in many cases, TMS provides much-needed relief to people who are living with treatment-resistant depression.
Unfortunately, not all people will benefit from TMS. Just like other mental health treatments, not any one treatment is a cure for mental health issues. And, every person responds differently to a treatment. However, many people do find success in TMS that they haven’t found in other treatments. So, if you haven’t gotten the results you want from other types of treatment, it may be worthwhile to see if you’re a good candidate for this type of therapy.
People who are interested in TMS for depression will need to be first be evaluated by a mental health specialist in order to determine if they’re a good fit for this type of treatment. Here at Delray Brain Science, this involves a physical and mental health evaluation that considers a person’s depressive symptoms, other treatments and medications they’ve tried, and medical history. After the assessment, our mental health specialists will work with an individual to determine the best treatment approach for one’s individual needs. This may involve a TMS program which can include sessions that vary in timeframe depending on a person’s needs and other treatments which can be utilized simultaneously with TMS.
There are specific cases in which a person may not be eligible for TMS treatment sessions. These instances involve if a person has a:
Want to find out of you may be a good candidate for TMS for depression? Delray Brain Science is an outpatient mental health clinic located in Delray Beach, South Florida. We provide a number of brain-based mental health treatments, including TMS. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you or a loved one living with treatment-resistant depression.
