Trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was approved by the FDA in 2008 for treating medication-resistant depression. In 2013, the FDA cleared it for use for migraines. Researchers have also probed its effectiveness for treating other disorders, such as anxiety and PTSD. Other studies indicate that it could helpful for memory.
The continued increase in the occurrence of regulatory approval in recent years has led to more psychiatric offices and treatment centers offering this treatment to their patients. Particularly those patients who have not been able to find relief via other, more traditional methods.
How does it work?
The process uses magnets which create a pulsed, directed magnetic field, which is similar to an MRI in strength, directed at the area of the pre-frontal cortex. This is the section of the brain located directly behind the forehead. These magnetic fields are used to induce the flow of minute electrical currents, which then serve to promote mood-lifting chemical reactions in the brain.
The treatment is designed to be performed daily, for 4 to 6 weeks. If the patient shows measurable improvement of their symptoms, the treatment is then performed periodically, as a booster therapy. Unlike electro-convulsive therapy (ECT), patients are not required to be sedated or anesthestized while having the procedure performed. Also, it doesn't result in the minor memory loss issues that can be associated with ECT.
In preparation of the treatment, patients take a seat on something that looks similar to a chair you might find at a dentist's office. A technician then secures the patient's head in place with straps to inhibit any movement during the procedure, and attaches magnets to the head. Patients must stay awake during the entire procedure. The room is then darkened, and any extraneous noises are avoided in order to promote relaxation and calm. Ten pulse-bursts are delivered every second for 4 seconds at a time, at 26-second intervals. The entire process takes approximately forty minutes.
Both the technicians and patients wear ear plugs since the machine creates series of loud, rapid knocks.Labels: Cognitive and Memory-Related Issues, Mood-Related Problems and Disorders, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
