NeuroStar TMS therapy is one of the newest treatment options for depression, depression with anxiety (anxious depression), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A significant number of patients find that medications do not relieve their symptoms, or the side effects are not tolerable. NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy can help those still looking for a better treatment.
At The TMS Center of New Jersey, board-certified psychiatrist and expert in the emerging field of neuropsychiatry, Dr. David Sikowitz meets with new patients who have yet to find a treatment that works. If TMS therapy is right for you, he will discuss it and answer all your questions so you can make the right decision for your care.
If you have never heard of TMS therapy, you are not alone. TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. It is a drug-free, shock-free, non-surgical therapy for major depression and other mental disorders. Magnetic pulses produce tiny electrical currents in specific areas of your brain that do not function properly. Those electric currents wake up nerve synapses (connections) and help them to return to normal function. In turn, this relieves depression, depression with anxiety, or OCD. The electric currents created through magnets do not create the same type of electric shock used in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
The TMS Center of New Jersey first started using TMS therapy for depression in 2010, shortly after the FDA cleared it for the treatment of major depression in patients resistant to medications. As use continued, clinicians realized that it could help anxiety, especially in patients with both depression and anxiety symptoms associated with depression. More recently, the FDA has also cleared TMS use for adolescents (15-21) with depression and for adults with OCD.
TMS therapy is not routinely used in patients with a seizure disorder or patients who are at increased risk of having a seizure due to TMS treatment. Other reasons for not using TMS include having a cochlear implant or other implanted electrical devices such as a pacemaker.
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for Mental Health uses TMS to stimulate nerve cells in the areas of the brain that control mood. As your brain responds, the levels of your brain’s neurotransmitter levels will normalize, and your depression, depression with anxiety, or OCD will decrease. For medication-resistant patients with depression, 83 percent report improvement, and 62 percent reach remission.
Treatment sessions are quick and comfortable with minimal side effects. You are awake throughout your treatment; no anesthesia is required. After a treatment, you are ready to drive and return to your regular activities. Over-the-counter pain medications easily take care of any headache or head discomfort, which are possible although most patients do not experience any adverse effects. You can also care for yourself and your family without difficulties.
The results from treatment with NeuroStar Advanced therapy at The TMS Center of New Jersey can last up to 12 months (Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affective Disorders, 277(12):65-74.). It is the only treatment that can last this long in patients with drug-resistant depression.
When you live with depression, depression with anxiety, or OCD, managing your day can be difficult.. When traditional medications and talk therapy are not enough, TMS can help. It can be added to your current treatment or replace part of your treatment that is not working. Neurostar TMS therapy is available at The TMS Center of New Jersey.
During your consultation with Dr. David Sikowitz at The TMS Center of New Jersey, he will review your medical history, including the treatments you have tried without success, and propose a new treatment plan. All your questions and concerns will be addressed, so you will feel comfortable with your treatment decisions. Contact our office today and take the first step toward better mental health.
