The Role of TMS in Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression
Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression
Treatment-resistant depression is not a formal diagnosis by itself. Instead, it is a term that is used if you do not experience sufficient relief after trying two or more antidepressant medications, typically alongside standard therapies like counseling. While there are many reasons that you may experience this resistance in alleviating symptoms, ranging from genetic predispositions to co-existing conditions, it is vital to continue exploring different treatments, such as NeuroStar TMS therapy.
Treatment-resistant depression presents itself with the same symptoms as major depressive disorder (MDD), such as depressed mood, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. If you have treatment-resistant depression, you are also more likely to experience:
- Anxiety
- More severe depressive symptoms
- Longer lasting depressive episodes
- A higher number of depressive episodes
- Anhedonia, which is reduced ability to experience pleasure
Treatment-resistant depression symptoms can range from mild to severe. It is important to consult with an experienced provider in Arlington or one of our other offices who will evaluate your symptoms and can recommend treatment strategies, such as neurostimulation.
What is NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Treatment is a noninvasive and drug-free procedure. Through a sequence of magnetic pulses, NeuroStar TMS can invigorate your brain cells. It is set up in a way to focus on specific regions of your brain that are involved in controlling your mood. By homing the magnetic pulses to those brain areas, NeuroStar can heighten your brain cell activity, which in turn encourages your brain to break away from depressive thoughts and stabilize your mood. The NeuroStar TMS procedure is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can help patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Why TMS Can Succeed Where Others Have Struggled
NeuroStar TMS treatment directly stimulates your brain regions responsible for regulating your mood. Conventional medications often work by altering neurotransmitter levels throughout the entire body, which can lead to broad, and sometimes less predictable effects. TMS, by contrast, zeroes-in on specific areas, encouraging improved neural connectivity and blood flow. This approach has brought life-changing relief to individuals who were previously unresponsive to medication alone.
At Bloom Health Centers, TMS sessions are typically delivered five days a week for seven weeks, each lasting about 20 minutes. Over time, this consistent, targeted stimulation helps retrain the brain to achieve healthier activity patterns, leading to a noticeable decrease in depressive symptoms.
Learn More About the Role of NeuroStar TMS for Treatment-Resistant Depression
When traditional therapies fail to alleviate depression, TMS provides a new horizon of hope. By targeting the root causes of persistent symptoms, Bloom Health Centers helps you move toward lasting relief through NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy. If you are dealing with treatment-resistant depression, reach out today to see how NeuroStar can offer a path forward to a happier, more fulfilling life.
TMS Patient Journey at Bloom
New to TMS? You are not alone.
Find out more about the journey to a life without depression through TMS Therapy at Bloom.
TMS Offered At:
Virginia
Arlington
801 N Quincy St, #601
Arlington, VA 22203
Winchester
158 Front Royal Pike, #206
Winchester VA 22602
MOB III, 7702 E Parham Rd Suite 102 Richmond, VA 23294
630 Peter Jefferson Pkwy STE 130 Charlottesville, VA 22911
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NeuroStar Indication Statement
Adult Indications for Use
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Adolescent Indications for Use
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).
Important Safety Information
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).
Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.