Is TMS the Answer for Chronic Depression?

One of the most common ailments that doctors treat annually is depression.  Nearly 15 million people in the United States are affected by depression.  Persistent Depressive Disorder or PDD is a chronic type of depression that usually last for more than a year and can be difficult to treat successfully.

The typical treatment options for PDD are antidepressant medications and counseling therapy. Some of the most common drug classes prescribed are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).  The widely known drugs, like Prozac, Zoloft, and Cymbalta play a role in how the neurotransmitters affect the mood by lessening anxiety levels and creating a more peaceful, cheerful spirit.

While the treatment options mentioned above are helpful for some people, the problem lies in two distinct categories.  Number one, depression is just a simple label that is placed over a very complicated, in-depth, disease with countless causes. And numbers two, a vast majority of patients do not respond well to the medications prescribed.  The good news is that there is an alternative that has helped a myriad of patients, and even better, this alternative therapy is non-invasive with absolutely no negative side effects.

This non-invasive therapy that helps to improve the symptoms of depression through magnetic stimulation in the brain is called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This procedure uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

In patients with depression, the prefrontal cortex in the brain is often atypical, showing patterns of abnormality. The TMS device uses magnetic stimulation in the brain’s area that controls emotions.  This is achieved through magnets that are implanted inside of the cranial device that adheres to the patient’s scalp.  The magnetic therapy generates a micro-electrical current, which stimulates the brain.

Patients are fully awake and aware during their treatment, as TMS therapy requires no anesthesia or sedation, and it is completely non-invasive. This 40-minute therapy immediately gets the brain stimulated and essentially kicks it into a non-depressed state. Many patients report a euphoric feeling after just one treatment.

The typical initial treatment course consists of at least 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 20-30 total treatments. Each treatment session lasts approximately 40 minutes.

Cognizant Health is experienced in providing services to persons in emotional distress. Their treatment approaches are tailored to meet the needs of the individual client, whether child, adolescent, adult or senior. They are dedicated to their profession and to their clients.

At Cognizant Health, Dr. Hagstrom offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an FDA-
cleared treatment for patients who have not found relief from prior medication therapy for depression. In his experience treating clinically depressed patients, Dr. Hagstrom understands that this illness is a debilitating condition, which can affect every area of the individual’s life and that of the people around them. This new and non-invasive therapy is a safe and effective option for the treatment of depression.

To find out more about TMS therapy or Cognizant Health’s other therapeutic options, please visit their website at TMSofNaples.com, or call their office at (239) 404-3379