A new drug-free way to treat depression and pain – Palm Beach Post

Question: Are there any advances in treatment for medication-resistant depression?

Answer: In 2008, the FDA cleared the NeuroStar TMS brain-stimulating device for treating adults with treatment-resistant depression.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or repetitive TMS (rTMS) is a non-invasive, non-drug medical therapy that delivers highly focused, MRI-strength magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in a localized part of the brain. Research shows this can reverse changes in brain cell activity and brain chemicals that occur in depression and in other psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Clinical studies have shown some benefit for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, and for addictions, tinnitus and other disorders. Other studies have shown short-term improvement in some symptoms of Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and post-stroke speech disorders and paralysis. In Europe, TMS has received CE approval for Chronic Neuropathic Pain, among other conditions.

A typical TMS session lasts 30 to 60 minutes and does not require anesthesia. An electromagnetic coil with about the same strength as that of an MRI scan is held against the forehead near an area of the brain that is thought to be involved in mood regulation. Then, short electromagnetic pulses are administered through the coil. The magnetic pulse easily passes through the skull and causes small electrical currents that stimulate nerve cells in the targeted brain region. Because this type of pulse generally does not reach farther than 2 inches into the brain, we can select which parts of the brain will be affected and which will not.

TMS is a safe treatment and does not have the potential for side effects of medications such as sedation, constipation, weight gain and addiction problems. Some patients experience mild head pain when starting the treatment and there is a very small risk of causing a seizure. Patients with seizures, pacemakers, implants, strokes, or tumors would need to be treated with caution.

TMS is one of a new class of non-invasive brain treatments being developed for neurological disorders. Other non-invasive devices include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Focused Ultrasound. Both Neurostar TMS and tDCS are available at the Brainstim Brain Stimulation Center.

Robert J. Friedman, M.D. is triple board-certified in Neurology, Pain Management, and Neuromuscular Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN.) Dr. Friedman completed his education / training at Dartmouth College, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University and the Florida Pain Clinic, and in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at Harvard Medical School.

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Headache & Pain Center of Palm Beach

875 Military Trail Suite 208 Jupiter, Florida 33458

7408 Lake Worth Road Wellington, Florida 33467

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A new drug-free way to treat depression and pain - Palm Beach Post