July 24th, 2024
The human body has an estimated 37 million cells, all of which communicate via electromagnetic fields as well as atoms and chemicals. Any disruption to the process of electromagnetic flow of energy in the cells can create impaired cell metabolism and lead to disease.
While there is still much to be learned, electrical stimulation has been conducted in various forms since the late 1800s. Michael Faraday, the father of electromagnetic induction, believed in what he called unity of forces or law of induction also known as Faraday effect (Michael Faraday | Biography, Inventions, & Facts, 2024).
The law of induction details how changing magnetic fields produces an electric current flow in nearby conductors. In this case, the human body is a conductor, and the body contains various ions such as sodium, potassium, chloride, etc., that tend to conduct electricity. It helps us predict how a magnetic field will interact with an electric circuit to produce an electromotive force (EMF).
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or TMS is stimulation of a specific location in the brain that administers repeated brief magnetic pulses by way of a treatment coil placed on the patient's scalp.
It is a non-invasive procedure and generally does not cause pain as it does not involve any surgical procedures or cuts in the skin. It is completed as an outpatient procedure in a doctor's office or clinic. TMS Sessions are consecutively completed daily, 5 times a week for about 4 to 6 weeks.
During the first TMS session, mapping occurs where the TMS provider will locate the area of the brain that causes the fingers or hands on the other side of the body to twitch (Professional, n.d.).
Next, the process of finding the lowest level of stimulation that causes twitching will occur. The electromagnetic coil is then placed, and the dosage amount is assessed to target 2 to 3 centimeters into the brain.
TMS therapy works by changing the activity of neurons in specific regions of the brain within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex also known as the area in the brain responsible for mood, pain, pleasure, decision-making, etc.
By sending either a single pulse, paired pulse or repetitive pulse (rTMS), the brain's electrical activity can be influenced to treat different challenges (Chail, Saini, Bhat, Srivastava, Chauhan., 2018).
By using magnets of varying strengths, pulse frequency, pulse patterns, and differing coils to target different parts of the brain, treatment outcomes can be produced for different challenges. TMS sessions can last from 3 to 60 minutes and results can be experienced from about 6 to 9 months after TMS treatment.
TMS therapy has been approved by the FDA to treat mental health conditions such as smoking cessation, migraines, obsessive compulsive disorder, and treatment-resistant depressive disorders. Exploring TMS therapy for depression is suggested when other methods of treatment such as medication and talk therapy have been unsuccessful for depression.
The efficacy of TMS treatment has also been shown in bipolar disorder, PTSD, and autism spectrum while research is still underway for Alzheimer's disease, borderline personality disorder, chronic pain, eating disorders, essential tremors, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, stroke complications, tendonitis, and traumatic brain injuries.
Additionally, although not FDA-approved, it has been shown to be effective for anxiety with a focus also on ADHD treatment.
Potential adverse reactions experienced may occur after treatment but generally are not very severe nor long-lasting and tend to decrease over time with repeated sessions. Mild discomfort and pain may occur in the scalp at the placement site.
Headaches, tingling sensations, spasms in facial muscles, as well as potential dizziness and lightheadedness are mild side effects. Some uncommon side effects however include seizures, mania in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hearing loss with poor ear protection during treatment (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - Mayo Clinic, 2023).
Precautions are taken by trained TMS treatment providers, as they will adjust stimulation levels and recommend pain medicine for those prone to headaches and migraines and provide ear plugs. To prepare for treatment, patients will have a physical exam and mental health evaluation to review their depression experience. Patients may also require other tests and labs to ensure safety.
TMS therapy for depression may not be for some patients, so during the TMS therapy assessment process it must be communicated if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, have metal in their body or implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, stents, or cochlear implants amongst others.
Patients with a history of epilepsy (or family history), taking certain herbal supplements, or some medicines, seizure history, issues of substance use, any medical conditions and prior TMS treatment need to communicate that with their psychiatrist to ensure that they meet the TMS therapy candidacy criteria.
It is important to note that immediate outcomes are not reported, and it can take up to a few weeks to experience a noticeable difference in mood. There are reports where TMS therapy can overstimulate some individuals causing an increase in anxiety, panic and/or insomnia. Also, some patients may experience a temporary dip back into depression symptoms previously experienced a few days around the third week.
By considering TMS therapy for depression treatment patients may benefit by avoiding the potential extensive side effects of medications used to treat depression while not impacting the entire body and its functioning. Patients can return to their normal daily functioning immediately after TMS treatment without monitoring and TMS treatment time is relatively low for the session.
TMS therapy can be covered by most major health insurance plans such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthCare. Patients may not need antidepressants after treatment as TMS has a 40% remission rate in comparison to SSRI medications that have 20-39% remission rate (Thomson, 2023).
TMS can offer depression symptom reduction for those who experience recurrent treatment-resistant depression as it is noted “in a TMS study conducted in 2023, nearly 60% of patients experienced remission and 74% experienced improvement in symptoms.” (Thomson, 2023).
Clarity Clinic offers the best TMS therapy in Chicago! Our TMS treatment specializes in TMS for depression. We use the latest advancements in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to provide effective, non-invasive treatment for depression.
Our state-of-the-art facility located in downtown Chicago the Loop, is designed to provide a relaxing and supportive atmosphere for your TMS treatment sessions.
If you’re struggling with treatment resistant depression and are looking for a proven, innovative treatment option, our TMS therapy services at Clarity Clinic can be a great option for you. Experience the difference and start your journey to better mental health today with TMS for depression.
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