TMS for Depression: A Powerful Alternative to Medications
Individuals suffering from depression face an array of challenges in daily life – challenges that have a profound impact on their well-being and overall functioning.
While depression is typically treated through psychological practices and medications, traditional therapies and antidepressants aren’t always effective.
Because of this, more and more people are seeking alternative treatment options to combat depression.
One emerging method is transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression, which involves magnetic fields that stimulate the brain’s nerve cells. Evidence shows that TMS for depression can be highly effective and a beneficial alternative to medications.
But what is TMS therapy for depression, how does it work, and what are the specific benefits?
Read more to find out!
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a treatment option for depression and a noninvasive type of brain stimulation. TMS devices apply powerful magnetic fields to areas of the brain most involved in depression.
TMS is often helpful for people who haven’t had luck with traditional depression treatment options.
Prefrontal TMS therapy used for four to six weeks is a process approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating depression.
This method positively impacts central nervous system activity. It doesn’t have as many side effects as medication, making it a viable solution for many people struggling to handle major depressive disorder.
What is Accelerated TMS?
Traditional TMS treatments occur over a period of four to six weeks. While this treatment shows promising results, its time frame can be troubling for some people who want to see results faster and alleviate their depressive symptoms.
To combat this time frame, professional physicians like those at Kind Health Group practice accelerated TMS for depression.
Accelerated TMS is also known as Stanford TMS for depression or Standford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT).
SAINT TMS for depression is ideal because it can occur in as little as five days, speeding up the traditional TMS process significantly while still maintaining positive results.
How Does TMS Treatment for Depression Work?
Accelerated TMS for depression is a four-step process available from providers like Kind Health Group. Below is a breakdown of the TMS process so you can prepare for TMS as a potential treatment option.
Comprehensive Evaluation
TMS treatment for depression begins with a comprehensive evaluation from Kind Health Group. During this evaluation, a professional staff member will evaluate your depression symptoms, assess your medical history, and learn about past treatments you’ve attempted for depression.
Our experienced physicians will then assess your unique needs to determine if accelerated TMS is an appropriate course of action to treat your depression.
Personalized Treatment Plan
If you’re deemed suitable for accelerated TMS treatments, the dedicated professionals from Kind Health Group will devise a personalized treatment plan tailored to your condition.
During this step, our professional staff members will create a personalized plan that’s tailored to your condition, identifying the precise areas of the brain that require stimulation to optimize your potential for the best treatment results.
Accelerated TMS Treatment Sessions
After creating your personalized treatment plan, the professional physicians from Kind Health Group will begin your accelerated TMS treatment sessions.
Successful accelerated TMS requires multiple sessions conducted within a short time frame – while traditional TMS usually occurs over four to six weeks, accelerated TMS can be completed in as little as five days.
During each accelerated TMS session, you’ll be seated comfortably as a specialized device delivers magnetic pulses to the targeted areas of your brain, impacting your depressive symptoms most.
One of the most significant benefits of TMS treatment is that it’s painless and non-invasive, making TMS sessions relatively simple for the patient.
A traditional TMS treatment session occurs as follows:
- Your TMS technician will provide you with earplugs for the procedure. Earplugs help minimize the clicking sound with magnetic impulses to alleviate any discomfort you might otherwise experience. The process begins by sitting in a comfortable chair, and you’ll stay awake throughout the procedure. There’s no anesthesia necessary for TMS therapy because it is non-invasive and pain-free.
- For the first session, your professional TMS technician will measure your head to determine the best place to position the magnetic coil. The technician will also take other necessary measurements to determine the appropriate settings for the TMS machine. The coil will be placed above the frontal area of your brain.
- Treatments will begin once the coil is appropriately placed. When the process begins, you’ll hear a clicking sound – this sound is the magnetic impulses being released into areas of the brain. A tapping sensation can be felt beneath the magnetic coil, but this sensation is painless.
- Your treatment will last 30 to 60 minutes, after which you can go home – and even drive yourself back!
Progressive Improvement
During the course of your accelerated TMS treatment, you’ll likely experience progressive improvement in your depressive symptoms. This improvement can include reduced feelings of sadness, increased energy levels, improvements in your mood, and an overall enhanced sense of well-being.
Completing the entire course of your accelerated TMS treatments is vital for the best results.
The Benefits of Accelerated TMS for Depression
Rapid TMS for depression is an excellent treatment option if you’re suffering from depression but haven’t experienced positive results with traditional treatment methods.
But what are the specific benefits of TMS therapy for depression, and is this treatment right for you? Below is a breakdown of the advantages you can expect when you choose TMS treatment for depression.
Accelerated TMS is Non-Invasive
One of the core benefits of TMS therapy is that it’s a non-invasive process. The procedure doesn’t require any anesthesia or surgery, making it a safer treatment option with minimal risks compared to invasive procedures.
For people struggling with depression, TMS is a comfortable alternative to traditional medications without too many risks.
Accelerated TMS is Efficient
Traditional TMS treatment for depression can be a lengthy process and often causes frustration because it takes time to be effective.
Accelerated TMS is an incredibly efficient process, providing a shorter treatment duration that allows you to take control of your life in no time
Accelerated TMS Improves Your Mood
A significant advantage of accelerated TMS is its effectiveness in combatting some of the most common symptoms of depression, including a low mood. TMS therapy is incredibly effective at elevating the mood of people struggling with depression and also has a positive impact on encouraging motivation in people with depression.
If you’re struggling with a lack of motivation because of your low mood due to depression, TMS can transform your life. TMS gives you the power to do everything you want and helps you find new motivation to take control of your life. It also enhances your energy levels, giving you even more motivation to do what you want to do in life.
Accelerated TMS has a Reduced Risk of Side Effects
While many people experience success using medication to treat depression, others encounter significant side effects that make medication more harmful than it is helpful. Accelerated TMS is beneficial because it reduces the risk of side effects, with many people who receive accelerated TMS experiencing no side effects.
In some cases, you might experience mild headaches and a tingling sensation. However, these side effects pass relatively quickly. They are often preferable to side effects like worsening depression, insomnia, nausea, and low libido – all of which can be common with traditional medications.
Accelerated TMS is Medication-Free
When it comes to treating depression, medications are usually the option suggested by healthcare professionals – however, as new treatment methods emerge, people are discovering effective alternatives without the risks of medication.
Accelerated TMS is a medication-free treatment option that doesn’t involve the potential risky side effects of medications, making it ideal for many people struggling with depression.
If you’re suffering from depression and haven’t had success with traditional medications or have experienced significant side effects from these medications, accelerated TMS might be the best and fastest way to get back on track.
Accelerated TMS Can Improve Your Sleep
People struggling with depression often face difficulties getting enough sleep and might experience symptoms like insomnia. Medications can sometimes worsen these symptoms, as insomnia is not an uncommon side effect of many depression medications.
Accelerated TMS therapy for depression has the potential to improve sleep patterns, meaning people who have difficulty with insomnia related to depression can fall and stay asleep more effectively following TMS therapy.
Accelerated TMS Doesn’t Impact Your Ability to Drive
Many treatments impact your ability to function behind the wheel, and you might expect this procedure to be the same.
However, you won’t need anyone to drive you home after your TMS therapy session, as accelerated TMS doesn’t influence your driving ability.
Even some medications can negatively affect your cognitive function and make it difficult to drive safely, making TMS therapy one of the most practical options to keep your driving abilities intact.
Accelerated TMS Can Decrease Anxiety
While the primary purpose of TMS treatments is to address depressive symptoms, accelerated TMS treatments can also reduce feelings of anxiety.
If you struggle with severe anxiety and panic attacks and are looking for a treatment method that can combat some of these symptoms, TMS is a highly effective option.
Accelerated TMS Enhances Cognitive Functioning
Cognitive functioning is often challenging for people suffering from severe depression. When you’re depressed, your attention and memory are often impaired, causing poor executive function.
However, TMS treatments for depression can enhance your cognitive functioning, giving you the ability to concentrate and improving your memory related to depression symptoms.
Accelerated TMS enhances the brain’s activity, improving cognition in brain areas that deal with depression.
What are the Side Effects of TMS for Depression?
Generally speaking, side effects of TMS therapy for depression are nonexistent or limited. However, you might experience a few mild side effects.
Though these side effects are much tamer than side effects you might encounter with traditional medications, it’s important to be aware of what you might experience following TMS therapy:
- Mild headaches that typically fades away quickly
- Temporary lightheadedness
- Sleepiness and drowsiness
- Tingling sensations
Additionally, in very rare cases, a seizure might occur resulting from TMS treatments. This side effect is incredibly uncommon, and occurs with only 0.1% of patients over the course of TMS treatments.
If you suffer from epilepsy, this risk is greater.
Is Accelerated TMS for Depression Right for Me?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression can be incredibly effective and has several benefits that make it an ideal solution for many people suffering from depressive symptoms.
Accelerated TMS treatments might be right for you if you identify with any of the following:
- You’ve attempted other treatments for depression and haven’t responded well to any traditional option, such as therapy and antidepressant medications.
- Your depression is severe and requires efficient intervention to prevent it from worsening.
- You receive screening for TMS eligibility and are deemed an appropriate candidate to receive this treatment.
- You’re able to commit to several accelerated TMS sessions within a short time frame.
- You understand the potential risks of TMS therapy for depression and are comfortable with possible outcomes.
- You don’t suffer from epilepsy or disorders that cause seizures.
- You consult a mental health professional, and they agree that TMS therapy can be an effective option for your condition.
- You’ve done research into TMS therapy for depression and have found people with similar symptoms whom this treatment has positively impacted.
Get Accelerated TMS for Depression From Kind Health Group
TMS for depression has many potential benefits, making it an ideal solution for many people struggling with severe depressive symptoms.
From its non-invasive procedure to its ability to enhance mood and boost motivation levels, TMS for depression is an excellent option if you’ve found traditional treatment options to be ineffective.
Kind Health Group provides the best accelerated TMS treatment to combat symptoms of depression and help you achieve balance in your life. Our trained professionals can guide you through an effective treatment process so you can get back to living the life you’ve dreamed about.
Contact Kind Health Group today to request a free consultation and speak with us about accelerated TMS therapy for your depression.
Meet the Author
Dr. Georgine Nanos, MD, MPH
Founder of Kind Health Group