Arlington NeuroStar TMS Therapy vs. Other Treatments

NeuroStar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not as well-known as prescription medications and talk therapy when it comes to treatments for depression, but it can be the key to turning things around. TMS therapy aims to reawaken synapses (nerve connections) in the areas of your brain that are known to affect your mood.

At Bloom Health Centers, we want you to know about all your options for mental health treatment. We believe it is important for you to evaluate your choices carefully, and we will gladly answer all questions you have about any form of treatment. Prescription medications, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are long-established treatments for depression, but they do not work for all patients. Our Arlington clinicians can help decide if NeuroStar TMS therapy is right for you.

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NeuroStar TMS Therapy

TMS uses magnetic pulses to generate tiny electrical currents in very specific areas of your brain that are known to be involved in modulating mood. TMS can be used to treat major depressive disorder, major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety, and OCD. More than six million treatments have been performed, and in a major study of treatment resistant patients, 83% of those patients completing their NeuroStar treatment course experienced measurable depression relief. (Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affect Disord, 277:65 74. Based on a real-world, retrospective study using CGI-S and a sample size of 615 patients.) In the study, 62% of these patients also experienced full remission of their depression symptoms.

TMS treatments do not require anesthesia. Your doctor may even require that you should remain on the medications you are taking. Treatment sessions run about 20 minutes long and are conducted every weekday for seven weeks. Because you are fully awake and alert during the sessions, you will be able to return to your usual activities. You are able to drive, care for your family, and continue working.

Medications vs. TMS

Prescription antidepressant and mood stabilizing drugs are routinely the first choice when starting treatment for depression. They are an easy therapy if you can remember to take your pills daily, and if you do not experience any side effects. Unfortunately, many people end up missing doses, side effects are common, and medications do not work for everyone. The need to wait for weeks before feeling a change can also be quite a challenge.

TMS therapy does not have the same systemic side effects as medication. The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site and headache. These typically occur in the first week. If you feel a dull ache in the treated area of your head or headache, over-the-counter medications are generally all that you will need. Adjustments can be made to your treatments without loss of efficacy when needed to reduce or alleviate the discomfort.

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Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Versus TMS

ECT is a treatment is often used for patients with severe depression or other mental health conditions that have not responded enough to other treatments such as medications and therapy. An ECT treatment requires anesthesia and is intended to cause a short seizure. The theorized mechanism of action is that the seizure will stimulate and reset the mood-controlling areas in your brain to ease your depression. Patients cannot drive after ECT treatments, leaving most patients with the need for a caregiver while receiving ECT therapy, and there a risk of memory loss (short and long term) and confusion, which can create a lasting problem.

Psychotherapy vs. TMS

Psychotherapy can be quite helpful for patients with depression. It can help you work through personal problems and teach coping mechanisms, but it cannot treat the synapses (nerve connections) that are not working properly in your brain. TMS treats those malfunctioning synapses that are at the root of your depression and anxiety. For many patients, adding TMS to psychotherapy can be a great combination with better results than psychotherapy alone. Talk therapy may be uncomfortable for some, and it can be difficult to find a therapist that you feel comfortable talking with and sharing personal thoughts. Psychotherapy can also be more time consuming than TMS therapy with the average length of a TMS session being much shorter than a psychotherapy session.

Compare NeuroStar TMS Therapy and Other Treatments With Our Arlington Specialists

It can be difficult to decide which type of treatment you will try for your addressing your depression. If you have already tried prescription medications or psychotherapy, it may be time to look into TMS therapy. You do not have to give up your medications or therapy sessions to add TMS treatments. Many patients find that a combination of therapies can lead to a better life without depression. Make an appointment today at Bloom Health Centers to explore how we can help you conquer your mental health issues.