The Facts About TMS Therapy
TMS therapy, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure usually performed in less than one hour per session. In TMS for depression, carefully placed magnets create painless electrical currents in the brain.
Magnetic brain stimulation changes how often nerve cells fire in the brain, altering levels of neurotransmitters that affect mood. These changes help relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder in many patients, as well as severe depression symptoms that haven’t improved with other depression therapies.
TMS therapy has been shown to be safe and effective. As of 2008, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has cleared one particular device for TMS for depression: Neuronetics’ NeuroStar TMS Therapy®.
Is Magnetic Brain Stimulation Right for You?
If you’re interested in TMS for depression, you’ll want to first visit with a psychiatrist. It’s true that a family doctor and/or qualified counselor may help make a mental health diagnosis. However, with specialized training, a psychiatrist can more effectively:
- Confirm a depression diagnosis
- Evaluate TMS therapy as a treatment for each patient
- Present benefits and risks of TMS for depression versus other options.
Your doctor will ask specific questions about your previous treatments, including:
- Any medication discontinuation and the reasons why (including side effects)
- Duration of previous treatments
- History of counseling
- Maximum dosages taken.
With this information, a psychiatrist will be able to determine if you may benefit from TMS for depression.
Who Shouldn’t Use Magnetic Brain Stimulation?
Magnetic brain stimulation is not a good option for patients with non-removable metal implants (such as a vagus nerve stimulator) in the head, pacemakers or similar devices. Pregnant or nursing women should also talk to their doctors before receiving TMS therapy; the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on pregnant women and nursing infants haven’t yet been determined
Side Effects of TMS for Depression
TMS for depression generally has few side effects. Unlike antidepressant medication, there is no sexual dysfunction or weight gain associated with TMS therapy. In addition, it doesn’t cause memory or other cognitive side effects commonly reported by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) recipients.
That being said, some TMS therapy patients report:
- Facial muscle spasms
- Headaches
- Lightheadedness
- Noise of the magnets
- Skin irritation at the site of magnet placement.
In rare instances, patients have experienced more serious side effects, including:
- Hearing problems
- Mania
- Seizures.
Resources
Lindner Center of Hope Staff. (n.d.). Is TMS right for me? Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Lindner Center of Hope website: www.lindnercenterofhope.org/PatientCare/TMSTherapy/tabid/561/Default.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Transcranial magnetic stimulation. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/MY00185.
Neuronetics Staff. (2010). Efficacy and safety. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Neuronetics website: neuronetics.com/Prod-Efficacy.aspx.
Neuronetics Staff. (2010). How TMS therapy works. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Neuronetics website: neuronetics.com/Prod-How.aspx.
Neuronetics Staff. (2010). NeuroStar TMS Therapy® clinical trial results. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Neuronetics website: neuronetics.com/Research-Clinical.aspx.
Neuronetics Staff. (2010). The NeuroStar TMS Therapy® system. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Neuronetics website: neuronetics.com/Prod-System.aspx.