Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

The "not-so-alternative anymore" alternative to Antidepressants.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when other depression treatments haven't been effective. This treatment for depression involves delivering repetitive magnetic pulses, so it's called repetitive TMS or rTMS.

HOW IT WORKS;

"During an rTMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. It's thought to activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity in depression.

Though the biology of why rTMS works isn't completely understood, the stimulation appears to impact how the brain is working, which in turn seems to ease depression symptoms and improve mood.

There are different ways to perform the procedure, and techniques may change as experts learn more about the most effective ways to perform treatments."

Source: Mayo Clinic

A myriad of ailments can be relieved and eradicated with TMS treatment.

Depression is treated by directing pulses towards specific areas of the brain that have been associated with depressive symptoms. TMS can alter the prefrontal cortex's neuron activity.

Depression

Generalized and specific anxiety are cut from the same cloth in many ways. TMS treatments utilize magnetic pulses to treat negatively-impacted areas of the human brain that have are susceptible to abnormal levels of activity.

Anxiety

A horrible, unrelenting disease that not only affects the patient, but also the loved ones that are around them. We have seen patients experience some relief from symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's

The brain's ability to trigger drug cues is staggering. With TMS treatments , many studies have shown that addicts had significantly-reduced drug reactivity following TMS treatment.

Relapse Prevention

. . .and that's just scratching the tip of the iceberg. Call us today to schedule a consultation!

But is TMS Safe?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is both non-invasive and non-systemic, which means by nature it has fewer side-effects than other treatments and in many cases there are zero side-effects whatsoever. There is no sedation, and no need to be driven to-and-from appointments.

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Scientific & Research Studies

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) versus standard 10Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in major depressive disorder (MDD)

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of the standard 10Hz FDA cleared protocol (37-minutes duration) to intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS; 3-minutes duration) for treatment-resistant MDD.

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) in major depressive disorder (MDD)

Data from 221 participants with MDD, across 5 randomized, single/double-blinded, sham-controlled trials were assessed regarding the efficacy of TBS over the DLPFC in terms of response and remission (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale).

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

n this small, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the authors examined the impact of 30 sessions of low-frequency (1 Hz) rTMS over the right DLPFC in treating GAD.

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study investigated whether low frequency (1Hz) rTMS over the right DLPFC in combination with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms than sham stimulation plus CPT.

Also available: Express TMS aka iTBS!

iTBS is a specific form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy called intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS), which is approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression. The exploration of this treatment was first conducted during the Stanford University study, where over 20 individuals that fit the criteria for severe depression volunteered to be part of the research. The volunteers also did not respond to treatment with at least one antidepressant medication.

iTBS

People suffering from depression are prone to experience bouts of suicidal ideation. They need immediate support and help. While antidepressants are good, they lack the swiftness provided by iTBS. According to Stanford scientists, SAINT works faster than traditional TMS and provides a swift response to the symptoms of depression.

Benefits of iTBS include:

The procedure only takes three days start to finish.

Participants see results within a few days from the treatment’s first administration.

iTBS is safe and poses no side effects.

Currently, iTBS ranks as the best Neuromodulation treatment for depression, ranking above Electroconvulsive Therapy and conventional TMS therapy.

Another advantage of the Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy is that it targets a specific point of the brain, making the treatment targeted and more effective.

iTBS could provide a means of rapidly ensuring the safety of suicidal patients in emergency settings due to its short duration and rapid onset of action.

Our iTBS services include all meals during your 10hr day sessions.

Also included in this package is a 3-day/2-night stay in one of our on-site suites that grants access to our on-site fitness center.

iTBS benefits & differences from rTMS

Case Studies & References:

Twenty-two participants with treatment-resistant depression received open-label iTBS. fcMRI was used to individually target the region of the left DLPFC most anticorrelated with sgACC in each participant. Fifty iTBS sessions (1,800 pulses per session, 50-minute intersession interval) were delivered as 10 daily sessions over 5 consecutive days at 90% resting motor threshold (adjusted for cortical depth). Neuropsychological testing was conducted before and after SAINT.

FULL STUDY

Before undergoing the therapy, all 21 study participants were severely depressed, according to several diagnostic tests for depression. Afterward, 19 of them scored within the nondepressed range. Although all of the participants had suicidal thoughts before the therapy, none of them reported having suicidal thoughts after treatment.

FULL STUDY

Magnetic stimulation was performed with a high power Magstim 200 (Magstim Co., Whitland, Dyfed, UK) producing magnetic stimuli with a monophasic waveform. A figure-of-eight coil with external loop diameters of 9 cm was held over the right motor cortex at the optimum scalp position to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the contralateral first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle.

FULL STUDY