Severe depression affects eight percent of the population in the United States. More than half of those afflicted dont respond to a prescription drug treatment program. Fortunately, many of these patients are able to escape the prison of depression due to the TMS therapy offered in West Palm Beach Florida.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic fields to stimulate neurons that lie dormant in people diagnosed with severe depression. It is highly targeted and most patients experience a significant and positive long-term improvement in mood. TMS therapy has also been found to be effective in patients diagnosed with PTSD, Schizophrenia, Parkinsons Disease, Autism, Chronic Pain, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Nicotine Dependence, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Pre-Alzheimers Disease.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) was approved for use by the FDA in 2008. Unlike electroshock therapy, it can be performed while the patient is awake and non-sedated, it doesnt initiate convulsions, and there is no memory loss. The magnetic field is usually targeted to stimulate neurons within the prefrontal cortex. Brain-imaging studies using the PET scan have shown that persons with major depression experience very little activity within this region.

Magnetic and electrical fields are two sides of one coin and each can induce the other. In a typical rTMS treatment, a series of magnetic impulses is delivered repeatedly in order to jump-start electrical activity within the desired area. The magnetic impulses are delivered via a figure eight coil and penetration of the magnetic impulses within the brain is shallow, but tightly focused, with this method. This method relies more on repetition than it does upon delivering the field to a point deeper within the brain. Technicians place a hand-held figure eight coil on the head during treatment.

Known as Deep Transcranial Stimulation, dTMS first received FDA approval for the treatment of major depression in 2013. An H-coil that is similar to a helmet is secured to the head in order to maintain placement of the electromagnets. Before the treatment session begins, a series of low-level impulses are sent to test for the specific strength of the field for each individual. Like traditional rTMS, most treatment plans include a session Monday through Friday and the entire sequence lasts four to six weeks.

The H-coil penetrates further into the brain and the anatomical effects are more localized than they are in traditional rTMS. The device was designed to allow the field to reach its optimal strength at the desired depth. In clinical trials, almost one-third of the treated patients went into remission and an additional 36% of participants experienced significant improvement.

(Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

Major depression has many causes. It may be genetic, induced by a traumatic life event or a result of a head injury. No matter what the cause, untreated depression is profoundly difficult. Many patients report an immediate positive effect on their mood after their initial TMS session. Brett Armstrong came to Advanced Mental Health Care in West Palm Beach Florida after a 2003 motorcycle accident left him unable to shake off a deep and debilitating depression. He states that, It was like a miracle. TMS therapy gave me my life back.

Advanced Mental Health Care has 3 locations near West Palm Beach Florida. They are located in Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, and Juno Beach. AHMC has participated in clinical trials with traditional rTMS and dTMS treatments for depression. They are currently looking for persons diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder to study the effect that dTMS treatment has on depression within this target population. Participants must be diagnosed as Bipolar, the use of prescription medication must have failed, and they must currently be taking mood stabilizers. The clinical trial will take place over an eight-week period.

For additional information regarding this trial or to see if you qualify, please email Dr. Holly LaSalle-Ricci at drlasallericci@gmail.com or call 561-333-8884.

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TMS Therapy in West Palm Beach - Psychologists ...