Depression Treatment with TMS

Living with depression can be incredibly challenging. Ironically, the symptoms of depression are often one of the biggest obstacles to people getting the help they need. When depression sufferer manages to get help, sometimes it’s not the right fit, and they get discouraged.

TMS therapy for depression offers an exciting and truly different new option for people with depression and their families. Treating depression with TMS can be especially helpful for people with treatment-resistant depression, or TRD, which doesn’t respond well to the usual antidepressant medications.

What to Know About Conventional Depression Treatment

While conventional depression treatment has evolved significantly in the past 50 years, it hasn’t always kept pace with technology. Make no mistake, treating depression with conventional antidepressants and talk therapy methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT) have been and continue to be effective. But this isn’t true in every case. That’s why depression patients and their families are increasingly looking for different approaches to treating depression.

The Problem with Depression Treatment

The problem is that some of these solutions are a bit of a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, some people don’t respond to CBT as well as an alternative, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Existential Therapy, or even an eclectic blend of approaches.

When Antidepressants Don’t Work

The same is true when it comes to medications. The SSRIs and SSRNI antidepressants we’ve been relying on for decades don’t necessarily work for everyone. If you’ve tried two or more antidepressants under controlled conditions for an appropriate amount of time and did not find sufficient symptom relief, you may have what’s called treatment-resistant depression or TRD. The good news is that treatment with Repetitive TMS (rTMS), which we offer at BrainHealth Solutions, is one of the most effective depression treatment options available for people with TRD.

What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation? (TMS)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS for short, is a specialized treatment that works by stimulating specific areas of the brain using magnetic fields. TMS works by activating nerve cells in the brain — more precisely, it acts upon the regions of the brain where mood regulation occurs. More importantly—-it’s effective.

Numerous clinical studies have shown that TMS therapy for depression provides substantive symptom relief for most patients who try it. TMS was first developed in the 1980s, so there’s been plenty of time to not only research its efficacy but also to develop even more effective and targeted variations of TMS therapy for depression and other conditions.

Variations of TMS

• Conventional TMS: The standard form of TMS involves longer sessions at the brain’s alpha wave frequency (30-60 minutes each) that change to up to 30 minutes conducted over several weeks.

• SAINT TMS: A more advanced variant, SAINT TMS delivers magnetic pulses in a pattern that mirrors the brain’s natural rhythms, making it faster and more efficient than traditional rTMS. It is available in 7 centers across the US, including at BHS

• Repetitive TMS (rTMS): The most frequently used form of TMS involves repeated magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions. It is commonly used for depression treatment.

• Deep TMS: Featuring a different coil design, Deep TMS reaches deeper brain areas, potentially treating conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other brain-related issues.

How TMS Treatment for Depression Works

TMS helps provide lasting relief from depression symptoms for most people who engage in a comprehensive TMS depression treatment program. TMS uses precisely targeted magnetic fields to stimulate brain activity. Specifically, TMS typically focuses on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

This region of the brain is where mood is regulated. It’s also believed that decision-making and other executive functions are centered here.

New research is being done into another region called Broca’s Area. Perhaps one day, TMS therapy will be used to target this region of the brain and treat other conditions.

What is SAINT TMS?

Here at BrainHealth Solutions, we offer a more advanced form of TMS for depression called SAINT TMS. The acronym SAINT in SAINT TMS stands for Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy. It’s a specialized form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) developed at Stanford University to treat depression more effectively and efficiently.

Research on SAINT TMS for Depression

While standard TMS was found to provide lasting relief for approximately 66% of patients, Stanford University School of Medicine’s double-blind study revealed that Saint TMS therapy provided lasting depression relief in nearly 80% of its participants. In addition, various studies on traditional TMS showed that over one-third of participants achieved full remission from Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).

Why Depression Treatment with TMS Works

The brain is still a mystery to us in many ways. However, we can detect and measure depression objectively in several ways, from brain imaging to checking neurotransmitter levels. Of course, patients self-reporting how they feel is always the starting point. This is also how we know when a particular treatment, like SAINT TMS for depression, is effective.

Unlike antidepressants, TMS does not inhibit the reuptake (reabsorption) of neurotransmitters like serotonin so that they can build up. Instead, TMS therapy for depression increases and enhances neural activity and neuroplasticity in the targeted region.

Beneficial Effects TMS Can Have on the Brain

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and develop new pathways, an essential part of change within the brain. Whether it’s changing thought or behavior patterns or learning to play the piano, neuroplasticity helps make the change possible. The enhanced neural activity and neuroplasticity of TMS can unlock a bounty of beneficial effects—-it is those effects that help relieve depression symptoms.

One of the indirect potential benefits of TMS is the increased release of certain neurotransmitters associated with mood.

These include:

• Serotonin
• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine

Is TMS Part of the Answer to Your Depression?

No one should endure untreated or inadequately treated depression or anxiety. If you or a loved one are struggling with depression and medications aren’t providing the desired results, or if you prefer exploring non-prescription options, TMS could be the solution you’re looking for.

BrainHealth Solutions offers TMS therapy in Costa Mesa, Riverside, and surrounding areas in California. We have helped hundreds find relief and would be honored to assist you or your loved one.

Reach out to us today at (949) 779-3587 to learn more about our treatment options or to book an appointment.