Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders globally. The condition is characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, and loss of interest, among other symptoms. It affects how people think and behave and may cause various emotional and physical issues. Common treatments for depression are antidepressants and psychotherapy. However, they do not work for everyone – some people do not see improvements in depression symptoms with medication or psychotherapy. In addition, medicines for depression also cause negative side effects that some people cannot tolerate. For this reason, people seek out alternative depression treatments, like TMS therapy.
What is TMS therapy, and how does it work?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy is a non-invasive procedure that applies magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. This helps improve symptoms of depression. An electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead during a TMS session, although the technique for applying TMS may differ depending on the expert. Electromagnetic pulses from the coil stimulate the nerve cells in the brain region responsible for mood control. It is believed that the stimulation causes decreased activity in brain areas responsible for depression.
Benefits of TMS therapy on your mental health
Treats symptoms of depression
TMS is commonly used for treating depression. It is frequently recommended for patients that have not found relief from standard depression medication and psychotherapy. Research shows that TMS treats depression symptoms by activating nerve cells responsible for mood and depression in the brain area.
Helps with anxiety
Anxiety is a mental health condition on its own and is also often a symptom of depression. Anxiety is usually caused by increased nerve cell activity in the prefrontal cortex. TMS relieves anxiety by minimizing activity in this brain region.
Helps with PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe mental health condition that often causes depression. TMS can target the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that regulates how people process fear and worry. Studies show that TMS helps relieve symptoms of PTSD, with the effects lasting for approximately six months.
Helps with nicotine addiction
TMS can also help with nicotine addiction. Nicotine releases the happy hormone, called dopamine. But prolonged use of nicotine causes the brain to crave the happy hormone. TMS helps reduce nicotine cravings by promoting the natural release of dopamine.
Helps with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
TMS also helps improve OCD symptoms. For example, people with OCD often experience increased activity between the prefrontal cortex and striatum. TSM helps by inhibiting activity in these parts of the brain.
Reduced side effects
A familiar challenge people with depression face is tolerating the side effects of depression medication. In fact, some severe side effects of depression meds include suicidal thoughts and mood alterations. In contrast, TMS side effects are typically mild. They include headache, scalp discomfort, and lightheadedness. Most of these side effects go away shortly after a session. They also decrease over time as you undergo additional sessions.
What can you expect from the procedure?
TMS is usually carried out in a clinic or doctor’s office. You can expect a series of treatment sessions for good results. The sessions are typically conducted daily or at least four to five times per week for a month or six weeks. The doctor will identify a suitable place to put the magnets during a session and determine the ideal magnetic energy. A session usually lasts about forty minutes. You remain awake and alert throughout the session and may experience slight scalp discomfort during and after. After the session, you can go about your normal activities.
How effective is TMS for depression
Studies have found that around 10% to 30% of people with depression do not experience positive results from medication and psychotherapy. A significant portion of these people gets positive results from TMS, with about one-third of them experiencing complete remission. However, this result is usually temporary. Therefore, patients may go back for treatments after several months. On the other hand, like other depression treatments, TMS may not work for some people. Regardless, it is a treatment worth considering if medication and psychotherapy do not do it for you.
