Here Are Some Of The Common Questions About TMS Therapy

Nowadays, most people suffer from depression disorder due to hectic lifestyles, traumas, mood controls, and so forth. Others consider this as a minor disorder, but a lot of patients have gone to greater lengths like death due to the failure of having this treated. Therefore, more and more patients are now leaning to TMS therapy as antidepressants don’t often work for everyone.

If you are one of those people who is planning to acquire this therapy, then it’s important that you first understand what this is. That being said, here are some of the common questions that most people have for this therapy before they even sign up for a session.

What is repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment for depression, OCD, addictions and other mental health conditions. The rTMS treatment machine gives high-frequency magnetic pulses to the brain area, which is considered as the cause of the condition. The treatment stimulates the brain and causes ‘neuroplasticity’ – which is the brain’s ability to mend and build connections between the nerve cells. In the case of depression, for example, the left side of the prefrontal cortex is stimulated, restoring the connections to help it work as it should, without the symptoms of depression.

How long do TMS benefits last?

The advantages of repetitive rTMS treatment are case by case basis. Some people never need TMS again—they’re out of their depressed episode and they do fine. Others require tune-ups. Good studies have shown that if people quickly undergo the treatment before they start to relapse, they can get out of the depression very quickly. Instead of 6 weeks of treatment, they can be well again in 2 or 3 weeks. It doesn’t seem that patients build up a tolerance with this technology. Over the long term, some patients require one or two treatments every couple of weeks to maintain their remission. Some patients have done that for up to a decade now, and it seems to work quite well. Most of these people are also on antidepressant medications, but somehow with TMS, they’re able to get a quality of life that they were not before.

Is there a possibility to worsen with the treatment?

The good thing about TMS treatment therapy is, your condition won’t get worse by acquiring sessions. Unlike with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), where people worry about a problem with memory, there are no adverse cognitive effects with TMS at all — it’s quite benign in that way. There are no drug interactions, so it’s good for patients who are already on medications of various kinds.

What should I expect during TMS treatment?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or rTMS treatment sessions last approximately 18 minutes each and take place in a comfortable setting. TMS uses magnetic waves to activate certain areas of the brain. During a TMS session, patients do not require anaesthesia. An electromagnetic coil is placed against the patient’s forehead, and small, electromagnetic pulses are generated through the coil. The pulses go through the skull and stimulate the brain area that regulates the mood.

How efficient is TMS?

So far, about 3,500 papers have been released about the efficiency of TMS therapy. One report, in particular, states that TMS aided people who had treatment-resistant depression. They saw a 58 per cent positive response rate and a 37 per cent remissions rate. Another trial in 2010 showed that TMS led to a 14 per cent remission rate compared to 5 per cent without it. A second phase of the trial allowed all patients to receive proper TMS and, astonishingly, remission rates rose to almost 30 per cent. Of the patients who’ve claimed improvement from TMS, most state the benefits are still there three years later. TMS has a rich history of success and an abundance of evidence to prove it.

Now that you have gone through this article, it would be easier for you to acquire TMS therapy sessions and see if it fits your needs. Just like any medical therapy, it’s extremely crucial to consult a professional doctor before acquiring it as this involves your health, especially your brain state. With that being said, if you decided to acquire this therapy, see to it that you are qualified to undergo the non-invasive procedure. Also, don’t forget to find a reliable clinic that can flawlessly carry out the procedure so you can maximise the potential benefits this therapy has to offer.