Blog

Patients Suffering from Treatment-Resistant Clinical Depression May Find Relief with TMS Therapy

Posted by Elizabeth Till on May 14, 2019 8:16:39 AM

TMS treatmentTMS Health Solutions is a leading provider of an innovative therapy called transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS therapy. TMS Health Solutions’ primary focus is on helping patients lessen the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, also known as TRD. Apart from transcranial magnetic stimulation, the team also offers medication management and telepsychiatry so that patients can reach their providers from the comfort of their own homes. Before discussing how transcranial magnetic stimulation helps with treatment-resistant depression, let’s learn about clinical depression.

Clinical depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States. It affects nearly 300 million people worldwide and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Until recently, many people suffering from clinical depression failed to seek and receive proper treatment because of the cultural and societal stigma surrounding mental health. TMS Health Solutions, along with many other organizations and influencers, works diligently to continue tearing down this stigma and replacing it with compassion, understanding, and an abundance of resources.

Common clinical depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Also, people suffering from clinical depression often report memory and concentration problems, decreased energy, difficulty sleeping, a loss of interest in once pleasurable activities, and physical problems like headaches and digestive upset without a clear cause. Of course, many of these symptoms could be indicative of various health problems or other mental health conditions, so clinical depression can be difficult to properly diagnose.

The exact cause of clinical depression is not known, but theories abound. Many experts believe that mood disorders arise from a serotonin imbalance. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter; neurotransmitters are an important group of chemicals in the body that control everything from mood to appetite to organ function. According to Medical News Today, serotonin “has a wide variety of functions in the human body” and “is sometimes called the happy chemical because it contributes to well being and happiness.” Because of this lack of a clear cause, clinical depression and other similar conditions can be difficult to treat once a proper diagnosis is made.

Traditionally, clinical depression has often been treated using a combination of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. Some people also find relief by implementing lifestyle changes such as altering their diets, taking up meditation, and exercising regularly. It’s important to remember that finding the right treatment option can take some time, especially because clinical depression is comorbid with other disorders in many patients. Comorbidity occurs when two conditions coexist alongside each other. In fact, the results of one study indicate that “51 percent of patients with a diagnosis of major depression also had at least one anxiety disorder and only 26 percent of them had no other mental disorder.” Despite the initial complicated nature of clinical depression treatment, however, many patients see improvement once they find the right type of medication or combination of treatment approaches that works best for them.

But many patients either do not find relief from antidepressants, perhaps along with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes, or find very little relief from their symptoms. Fortunately, TMS therapy is another option for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Transcranial magnetic stimulation targets the specific part of the brain known to control mood and utilizes magnetic fields to stimulate it. Some of the major benefits of this treatment are that it requires no anesthesia, is relatively noninvasive, and carries with it very little risk of side effects. And best of all, many patients find that it is very effective. The FDA labeled TMS therapy to be marketed as a treatment for clinical depression in 2008, and since then, further studies have shown that it has potential to treat a wide range of conditions, many of which can be debilitating. TMS therapy is often administered in conjunction with other types of treatment, so it’s important to find a reputable provider who is willing to work with you and find the best option for your specific needs.

TMS Health Solutions is the ideal option for people looking for relief from their clinical depression symptoms, especially if they’ve already tried other treatment options. Although the TMS Health Solutions team focuses primarily on alleviating the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, the clinics are also provide treatment for other conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphia, memory disorders, mild cognitive impairment, and disorders that result in chronic pain. TMS Health Solutions provides services out of several locations throughout the Northern California area and has one location in Southern California as well. Visit the company’s website to find the location that’s most convenient for you.

Topics: Depression, TMS, clinical depression, depression symptoms, depression treatment, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), anxiety

Have You Been Tested for Depression?

New depression screening guidelines established by the U.S. Preventative Task Force suggest that depression screening should be a standard component of your basic medical treatment. Is this a good idea for you?

Take Our Depression Screen

For patients and families held back by severe depression, there's hope.

A team of nationally-recognized physicians is using TMS, an FDA-approved therapy, to bring relief without side effects to severely depressed patients.

Click to Get Started

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts