TMS Therapy: Treatment for Other Conditions
Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS therapy, is a relatively new method of treatment of depression. This is a safe, effective treatment for depression that can be effective even in severe cases, when antidepressants and talk therapy have been unsuccessful.
TMS therapy has also been used to treat a wide variety of other conditions. In addition to treating bipolar depression (a different condition than major depressive disorder or clinical depression), TMS therapy has proven useful in the treatment of schizophrenia. Transcranial magnetic stimulation may even be effective as treatment for migraines and autism.
TMS Therapy for Treatment of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a very frightening and disabling psychiatric disorder, causing distorted understanding of and reactions to reality. Over time, many schizophrenia patients eventually lose the ability to live independently and care for themselves.
Some evidence suggests that TMS therapy may be an effective treatment of schizophrenia. According to a 2003 Yale University School of Medicine study reported in The Lancet, TMS treatment of schizophrenia resulted in a clinically significant reduction of auditory hallucinations in 12 sufferers. Auditory hallucination, or “hearing voices,” is often one of the main symptoms of schizophrenia.
How does TMS therapy work as treatment of schizophrenia? Researchers believe that auditory hallucinations are caused by abnormal activity in the left temporal parietal cortex. Magnetic brain stimulation of this specific area seems to improve this symptom.
Treatment for Migraines with TMS Therapy
A 2010 study by Neuralieve, Inc. examined TMS therapy as treatment for migraines. Some of the 201 participants were given a sham treatment (similar to a placebo), while others received TMS therapy. Those who received TMS therapy were more likely to experience migraine relief, and 29 percent were pain-free for 24 hours. These participants also experienced less:
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Sensitivity to sound (phonophobia).
Autism and TMS Therapy
Autism is one of several serious developmental problems known collectively as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These disorders typically appear by the age of 3, and affect a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others, and may also affect their sensitivity to certain types of sensory stimulation. Autism symptoms may vary from person to person, but they generally include:
- Language problems (beginning to talk later than age 2, loss of previous verbal skills, inability to start or maintain a conversation) and behavior issues (constant movement and/or repetitive behaviors, such as arm flapping or becoming disturbed at changes in routine)
- Sensory overload, or extreme sensitivity to touch and sounds. (Even sounds that don’t affect most people, such as the hum of a light bulb)
- Social skill problems (poor eye contact and/or not responding to his name).
In a 2009 study by the University of Louisville, 10 autistic patients who received TMS therapy experienced a decrease in the following autism symptoms:
- Hyperactivity
- Sensory overload
- Repetitive behaviors.
Resources
Hogg, M. (2008). Autism helped by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Environmental Illness Resource website: www.ei-resource.org/news/autism-news/autism-helped-by-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/.
LifeTips Staff. (n.d.). Sensory issues and autism tips. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the LifeTips website: autism.lifetips.com/cat/66419/sensory-issues-and-autism/index.html.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Autism. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/schizophrenia/DS00196.
Robbins Headache Clinic Staff. (2010). TMS as acute migraine therapy. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Robbins Headache Clinic website: www.headachedrugs.com/articles/tms-migraine-therapy.html.
Schizophrenia.com Staff. (n.d.). Treatments being researched that are showing some early positive results. Retrieved May 28, 2010, from the Schizophrenia.com website: www.schizophrenia.com/treatments.htm#tms.