Can’t Conquer Depression? How Magnets Can Help – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic (blog)

Most people with depression feel better with treatment. But about 30 percent cant seem to shake off their depression. This is especially true if you respond poorly ordont respond at all toantidepressants.

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For those with treatment-resistant depression, a noninvasive treatment calledtranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers hope.

This relatively new option can bring relief whenother treatmentsfor depression fail, says psychiatristMurat Altinay, MD.

TMS uses a magnetic field similar to that used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to stimulate the brains dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in mood.

Increasing the activity ofneurons in this area lessens depression, Dr. Altinay explains.Havingyour brainstimulated by a magnetic field may sound a bit scary, but the experience isnt painful.

The typical TMS session lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, he says. During the session, patients are fully awake and sitting in a comfortable chair.

Heres what happens:

Throughout treatment, you are fully aware of whats going on. You can speak, read or even nap. After treatment, you can resume your daily activities immediately without restrictions, he says.

One drawback of TMS is that its time-consuming, at least in the beginning. During the first phase, youll likely receive treatment every weekday for six weeks (about 30 times).

During the second (maintenance) phase, the doctor tailors the frequency to meet your needs. You may get treatments every other week, monthly, or every two months.The frequency gradually decreases.

Research shows that regular maintenance with TMS helps prevent recurrence and reduces the symptoms if depression should come back.

TMS has relatively few side effects.The most frequent side effect is headache, but not everybody experiences that, Dr. Altinay says. If you do get headaches, taking Advil or Tylenol before treatments can help.

More serious is the increased risk of seizures reported in the literature.Having a seizure disorder would prevent a patient from being the best candidate for TMS. However, Ive been doing TMS for 10 years, and none of mypatients have experienced seizures, he notes. Some literature suggests that if a seizure disorder is well-controlled with anti-epileptic drugs, TMS might still be an option.

Dr. Altinay says TMS mainly targets those who dont respond adequately to antidepressants or who are completely medication-resistant. TMS alsocan be offered if antidepressants cause severe reactions or side effects, or worsen other health issues.However, TMS is not recommended for anyone with a:

You may have heard of another treatment for medication-resistant depression:electroconvulsive therapy(ECT), inaccurately called shock therapy.

While TMS and ECT share similarities, TMS offers several advantages:

Only a limited number of healthcare providers offer TMS, so it may take some research to find one near you. And not all health insurance companies will pay for TMS, says Dr. Altinay.

However, this option offers hope for those whove struggled to find relief from depression through traditional avenues, he says.

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Can't Conquer Depression? How Magnets Can Help - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic (blog)