TREATMENT: |
TYPES OF DEPRESSION: |
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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) |
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| Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): The used of a strong, rapidly changing magnetic fields to stimulate certain areas of the brain. A device that produces a strong pulsed magnetic field is placed against the head to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. The left prefrontal cortex is an area of the brain that is often involved in clinical depression. This is the area that is stimulated when using TMS to treat depression. |
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| TMS therapy is not the same as the magnet therapy that
is often advertised on the Internet. The magnetic field used in TMS
is several times stronger and an electric current passing through
a coil of wire produces the magnetic field. The magnetic fields only
reach the forebrain and is believed to be safe.
TMS is not yet FDA approved for the treatment of depression. It is still in its investigational stages. There are many clinical studies in progress on transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of major depression. There have been promising results from earlier studies. It is hoped that TMS will prove to work as well as
ECT but in a much gentler and safer way. TMS does not cause
a seizure and no sedation or medication is required. It may cause
slight headache in some patients. Back to Depression Treatment
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