Back to Basics

Sometimes it helps to have a refresher.  Today we’re going to go over the basics of TMS and the most common questions we receive about this treatment.  We’ve included plenty of links to other parts of our site for more information on each point.

What Does TMS Mean?

TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation.  It is a form of non-invasive neuromodulation therapy approved by the FDA in 2008.

What Does TMS Do?

TMS is used to treat treatment-resistant MDD (major depressive disorder).  “Treatment-resistant” refers to MDD that has previously been treated with

Dysthymia: An Unwelcome Guest

At Rochester Holistic Psychiatry, we help with many types of depression.  Our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy is approved by insurance carriers to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) only, but what are the other types of depression?  Depression is a blanket term used to describe several disorders that can show some of the same effects and may intersect or be comorbid with another condition.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that about 1.5% of adults in the United States suffer with dysthymia.  While generally not as severe

What is Neuromodulation?

How is neuromodulation used?  How does it compare to TMS?  We were glad to be asked about that recently, because neuromodulation is a fascinating topic.

In short, TMS is a type of neuromodulation therapy.  Neuromodulation is the practice of using technology to treat nerve activity, typically via electric current, magnetism, or releasing medication.  This can be delivered to the brain or other parts of the body.  Some types of neuromodulation are:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS. This is the kind of neuromodulation we use at Rochester Holistic Psychiatry.  Take

Which Came First?

When discussing the interactions between major depressive disorder (MDD) and addiction, the question of which came first is difficult, convoluted, and likely pointless.

Both make the sufferer more likely to isolate.
Both can come with overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame.
Both often take a toll on the body.
Both negatively affect relationships with family, friends, and employers.

With addiction, the initial use of the substance may be chosen to get enjoyment, cope with pain, or any combination of those two along a spectrum.  Eventually, the pleasure (or alleviation of pain) from using

How Does the TMS Procedure Work on the Brain?

The TMS machine uses an electromagnetic coil to issue pulses that enter the skull and stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood, emotion, and sensory processing.  It serves as a sort of reset button and improves the flow of neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers the brain passes around to its various regions.

What Parts of the Brain Does TMS Interact With?

The TMS coil is placed over the front of the skull to stimulate the cerebral cortex and parts of the frontal cortex,

How Do We Decide?

When we’re thinking about how many times you should receive TMS, much depends on:

How bad your major depressive disorder (MDD) is and how often your doctor says you should go.
What your MDD has and has not responded to already. If your MDD responds well to less frequent and/or aggressive treatment, there may be no need to change.
Comorbidities may also be a factor, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder.

Fortunately, most cases of MDD respond well to a regimen of therapy, medication, and social support, but in too many

One Way or Another

When treating major depressive disorder, or MDD, your doctor and/or psychiatrist will typically advise a regimen of therapy and possibly medication.  Unfortunately, serious depression can sometimes prove resistant to treatment.  When medications and therapy aren’t enough, you might have other options depending on the problem and what the therapy is approved for.  Two that we want to compare today are transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Developing Therapies

Both TMS and ECT are brain stimulation therapies, which stimulate areas of the brain with electric currents or via

Your Concerns, Addressed

We get a lot of questions about transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy (TMS) and what the procedure feels like.  We get why—it can seem intimidating, even scary.  We also get questions about the side effects of TMS.  We’ve got answers, and we’d like to go over them today.

How TMS Is Done

The TMS treatment procedure is easy and simple.  One session of rTMS, or repetitive TMS, is usually given 5 days out of each week for 4-6 weeks.

When receiving TMS, you’ll sit down in a chair.  There is no sedation