TMS brings new hope for people with depression and anxiety

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is emerging as one of the most promising new therapies for the treatment of anxiety and depression.  Of all the mental health disorders, these two are the most common.  Recent statistics (2023) show that in the United States alone, around 33% of women and 24% of men had attended a healthcare provider with symptoms of anxiety.  In the same year 24% of American women and 22% of men reported the symptoms of depression.  Worldwide, the figures are even more startling:  301 million people suffer from anxiety and 280 million from depressive illness (2019).

The impact of these two disorders is significant – they can disrupt an individual’s daily life, causing difficulties in working and maintaining relationships.  Most people with these conditions find it difficult to enjoy everyday activities.  Many look to medication and therapy to provide relief.  However, these are not effective for everyone.  In recent years, new therapies like TMS have been stepping in to provide hope for those resistant to traditional treatments.

The symptoms of anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand.  To understand how TMS can help with these symptoms, it helps to know what they are and how people experience them.

Anxiety may appear in several ways, for example, as a phobia or panic disorder, social anxiety or a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).  Depression can vary in severity but is always characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and a lack of interest in life.  Depressive illnesses often produce physical symptoms such as appetite loss or weight gain and sleep disruptions which leave the person feeling low in energy.  Someone may be diagnosed with a major depressive disorder (MDD), for others it may be a sign of bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder, where a deterioration in mood happens during the winter months.

What treatments are available for Anxiety and Depression?

In the first instance, most people manage the distressing symptoms of anxiety and depression using traditional treatments like medication and psychotherapy.  Often, these are used in combination.  However, while these are frequently effective, they can cause issues for some people.

Antidepressants are often the first line of treatment.  The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most commonly used.  SSRIs tend to be used for depression, with SNRIs being used where anxiety is the main issue.  Both of these drugs affect the levels of chemicals in the brain that affect mood.  Occasionally, people with anxiety disorders may be prescribed major tranquillizers (benzodiazepines), but these are only appropriate to treat acute episodes of anxiety in the short term.  Due to their high potential for dependence, these are not prescribed for ongoing treatment.

Talking therapies can be highly effective in helping resolve the issues caused by anxiety and depression.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly used therapy which helps individuals identify and change their negative thought processes.  Other approaches may be more suitable depending on the root cause of the problem.  For example, longer-term psychotherapy using a person-centred approach may be beneficial to help someone explore the origins of the problem.

Where does TMS fit in?

Many people find traditional treatments hugely beneficial, but some people do not respond well to the medication.  For some, the side effects can be unpleasant and act to increase their feelings of anxiety or depression.  Similarly, many people find therapy very helpful:  others cannot manage the time and commitment to make that work or find that it takes too long to provide relief.    For these individuals, transcranial magnetic stimulation offers a new hope by providing a drug-free and non-invasive alternative that can be delivered quickly and conveniently.

How does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation help?

TMS has shown great success in treating major depressive disorders by using magnetic pulses, which stimulate brain areas concerned with mood regulation.  It also shows potential in relieving anxiety disorders, including phobias, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation targets magnetic pulses on the prefrontal cortex.  These pulses help create extra electrical currents within the brain, stimulating nerve cells.  It is the disruption and imbalance of brain activity that is implicated in disorders like depression and anxiety and TMS helps the brain to reset its activity and increase connectivity between regions within it. In addition, the action of the magnetic pulses helps stimulate neurotransmitter production.  These chemicals include serotonin and norepinephrine, which are the specific chemicals targeted by antidepressant and antianxiety medications.

There have been several studies on the effectiveness of TMS on depressive disorders.  These studies show significant improvements in symptoms for most patients, with many experiencing total relief.  TMS is often combined with traditional therapies, which can increase and speed up symptomatic relief.

Similarly, anxiety causes disruptions and imbalance in areas of the brain.  By stimulating the right prefrontal cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex, the brain can be encouraged to normalize itself.  The amygdala, which is critical to the brain’s response to threat, is also helped to become more regulated during the procedure, leading to a reduction in anxiety responses and episodes of panic that may be associated with anxiety disorders.

Advantages of TMS

TMS is a completely non-invasive procedure.  It does not require sedation or admission to the hospital and is performed on an outpatient basis.   It also has no body-wide side effects. TMS is, therefore, well-tolerated, and for most people, it is entirely pain-free.  Others have reported mild discomfort during treatment,  usually a tapping or buzzing sensation at the treatment site or a mild headache, which resolves quickly after the session.

Is TMS right for me?

TMS is a good option for people who have been unable to get relief using traditional therapies.  Treatment can be given alone or as part of an ongoing treatment plan incorporating traditional therapy.  It has been used successfully for depression, anxiety, PTSD and OCD.

At the Southern Colorado TMS Center, we recognize that every individual is unique.  We assess everyone to make sure that TMS is the right choice for them.  Our team will take a complete medical and psychological history before formulating a personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect During TMS Treatment

Most people receive treatment on weekdays for around 4-6 weeks.  Each session will last 30-45 minutes, depending on the agreed treatment plan.  During this time, the medical practitioner will place a magnetic coil against the client’s scalp, delivering the magnetic pulses to the selected brain region.  Sometimes, treatment can produce a tapping sensation and a mild headache, which resolves once the session ends and is usually very mild.  For most people, there is no discomfort at all.  Since there is no need for sedation, the client can leave and go about their usual routine once the treatment is complete.

Progress is monitored throughout treatments, with adjustments made as necessary and many people notice a gradual improvement in symptoms over the first few weeks.  At the end of the course, there will be a further review.  If, at this time, it is decided that follow-up maintenance sessions will be helpful, these can be arranged.

For more information, please get in touch with us today.  Our trained, helpful team are waiting to take your call.