If you are someone who has tried other treatments like medication or talk therapy without success, TMS therapy may be the right choice for you.
I’ll explain what TMS therapy is, who can benefit from it, what to expect during the treatment, and how it can help you overcome a treatment-resistant condition—one that hasn’t seen positive, lasting benefits with other methods.
So, what is TMS therapy?
TMS therapy is a non-invasive, painless, and effective treatment for various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, chronic pain, and migraines.
The treatment uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that are responsible for regulating mood, emotions, and other important functions.
The magnetic pulses are delivered through a small coil that is placed on the scalp, and they are targeted to regions involved in the specific mental health condition being treated.
Now, who can benefit from TMS therapy?
TMS therapy is an effective treatment option for people who have not responded to other treatments such as multiple medications or other kinds of therapy.
For example, if you have been struggling with depression and have tried multiple antidepressants without relief, TMS therapy may be the next step for you.
Additionally, TMS therapy may be helpful for people who cannot tolerate the side effects of medications or who prefer not to take medications for personal reasons.
It is important to note that TMS therapy is not a first-line treatment option for mental health conditions.
Typically, it is considered only after other treatments have been tried and failed.
However, if you are someone who has not found relief with other treatments, TMS therapy may be a viable option.
But, what can you expect during TMS therapy?
The TMS therapy process typically involves several sessions over a period of weeks.
Each session lasts around 30 to 60 minutes, and most people need around 25 sessions to see optimal results.
During treatment, you simply sit in a comfortable chair while a small coil is placed on your scalp.
The coil delivers magnetic pulses to targeted areas of your brain, which may cause a light tapping or knocking sensation.
Most people find TMS therapy to be a completely painless and comfortable experience.
Though, some report mild discomfort or headaches during or after the treatment.
These side effects are very often temporary and go away on their own.
You will be able to resume normal activities immediately after each session, and there is no downtime associated with the treatment.
So, let’s look at how TMS therapy can help.
One common use for TMS therapy is in the treatment of depression.
Depression is a complex and challenging condition that can be difficult to treat with traditional methods such as medication or therapy.
However, studies have shown that TMS therapy can be an effective treatment option for people with depression who have not responded to other treatments.
For example, a 2010 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that TMS therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of depression in people who had not responded to antidepressant medication.
Another TMS therapy is for the treatment of chronic pain.
Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that can impact all areas of a person’s life.
While traditional pain medications can be ineffective or have unwanted side effects like addictiveness, TMS therapy has been shown to be an effective option, particularly in people with fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Pain found that TMS therapy was highly effective in reducing pain severity and improving quality of life in people with such conditions.
TMS therapy is an innovative and effective treatment option for people who have been struggling with mental health conditions that have not responded to other treatments.
Even if you have been struggling with a stubborn mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, chronic pain, or addiction, TMS therapy may be the right choice for you.
A 2019 study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that TMS therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD in adults, while a more recent one found in the Journal of Psychiatric Research shows TMS reduced cravings and improved abstinence rates in people with cocaine use disorder.
Research has even discovered that TMS therapy is effective at reducing symptoms of anorexia nervosa and improving body image perception.
While TMS therapy is not a first-line treatment option for all mental illnesses, it is an effective option for people who have tried other treatments without the results they expected.
The treatment is painless, non-invasive, and demands no downtime, making it a convenient choice for people with busy schedules such as parents, teens, and professionals.
If you’re considering TMS therapy, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if the treatment is right for your specific needs and circumstances.
Your provider can also answer the questions you may still have about the treatment process, side effects, and what to expect during and after sessions.
In the final analysis, TMS therapy is a clinically proven treatment option for treatment-resistant mental health conditions.
If you’ve tried medications, other therapies, holistic approaches, or natural remedies without success, TMS therapy may be the next step.
Through a non-invasive, painless experience, TMS therapy is convenient and effective.
Ask future providers about TMS because it may be the way to overcome your mental health challenges and improve overall quality of life.
Citations
Carpenter, L. L., et al. “Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for major depression: a multisite, naturalistic, observational study of acute treatment outcomes in clinical practice.” Depression and Anxiety, vol. 29, no. 7, 2012, pp. 587-596.
Lefaucheur, J. P., et al. “Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).” Clinical Neurophysiology, vol. 125, no. 11, 2014, pp. 2150-2206.
Rodriguez, C. I., et al. “Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 78, no. 4, 2017, pp. e1-e9.
Gaynes, B. N., et al. “Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 74, no. 5, 2013, pp. 477-489.
Fitzgerald, P. B., et al. “A randomized trial of rTMS targeted with MRI based neuro-navigation in treatment-resistant depression.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 34, no. 5, 2009, pp. 1255-1262.
Bae, E. H., et al. “Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on fibromyalgia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Pain Medicine, vol. 18, no. 5, 2017, pp. 952-965.
Prudic, J., et al. “Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of major depression: a comprehensive summary of safety experience from acute exposure, extended exposure, and during reintroduction treatment.” The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 67, no. 1, 2006, pp. 16-26.
Volpato, C., et al. “Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for addiction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 128, 2020, pp. 129-137.
Kirsch, P., et al. “Neural correlates of disgust in standardized olfactory stimuli in anorexia nervosa.” Psychiatry Research, vol. 258, 2017, pp. 24-30.