A Psychiatrist Discusses TMS Depression Treatment

A psychiatrist may recommend TMS therapy to improve the symptoms of depression or anxiety. They will typically use TMS on patients dealing with mental health issues that are resistant to more 'traditional' treatments.

The benefits of magnetic brain stimulation make the treatment increasingly popular with patients and their doctors. TMS is safe and non-invasive, with positive outcomes in many cases. According to PubMed, a patient on both TMS and medication is three times more likely to respond to their treatment plan.

A psychiatrist's take on depression

There is no single cause of depression, but certain situations can trigger the condition. Stressful or traumatic life events can leave a person more vulnerable to depression. Women and the elderly are also more likely to suffer from depression than men and younger people. The same goes for those suffering from certain medical conditions or people with a family history of depression. Substance abuse also increases the risk of mental health issues.

Depression also has physiological markers that could be the causes or effects of the illness. For starters, research finds that statistically, people with a history of depression have smaller hippocampi. A small hippocampus means fewer serotonin receptors to help with memory and emotion processing. Its shrinkage may result from an overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol.

This increase in cortisol production may also affect parts of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for many of the brain's cognitive and mood regulation functions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targets this particular part of the brain.

How TMS treatment manages the symptoms of depression

TMS therapy applies a magnetic pulse to the prefrontal cortex at a frequency range of just under 1Hz to 15Hz. Higher-frequency magnetic pulses allow for shorter TMS therapy sessions.

The magnetic pulses travel a few centimeters into the brain, inducing small electric currents that excite specific nerve cells. For patients with major depression, the psychiatrist will aim the TMS coil at some regions of the PFC. When the nerve cells in this brain region become more active, they produce beneficial brain chemicals.

These brain chemicals stabilize the patient's mood and improve their cognitive abilities. In other words, the symptoms of depression lessen after TMS treatments.

What to expect from the procedure

TMS therapy is a short, painless outpatient procedure that can fit into most schedules. The sessions take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, and they involve the following:

• The TMS technician positions the patient in a comfortable chair
• They place the TMS coil on the scalp, right over the section of the PFC that the doctor wants to target
• Next, the patient wears earmuffs to dull the sound of the TMS machine
• Lastly, the technician switches the TMS machine on, allowing the coil to direct magnetic pulses into the brain

A psychiatrist or some other qualified professional will oversee the procedure from start to finish. Afterward, the patient gets to resume their daily routine.

TMS therapy and timing

Psychiatrists usually recommend five sessions a week for four to six weeks. Most patients will start to experience results after the two-week mark. By the end of treatment, the person should report fewer symptoms of depression.

Find out if TMS is the treatment that works for you

Our psychiatrist offers screening and diagnosis for patients with major or treatment-resistant depression. Book an appointment to find out if you are a good candidate for TMS treatment.

Request an appointment here: https://www.hopetmsofny.com or call Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center at (646) 578-8152 for an appointment in our New York office.

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