Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects your life in a myriad of ways. Some people may develop treatment-resistant depression, a version of MDD that does not respond to traditional medication. This often poses a serious challenge, and for many years, there was no apparent solution. In a positive development for those with treatment-resistant depression, new treatment options have shown promise in helping treat the symptoms of MDD.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is an FDA-cleared, noninvasive treatment that could help alleviate the worst symptoms of MDD and get you back to the activities you enjoy. Our skilled team at Memorial Park Psychiatry could guide you through the process of how TMS therapy in Houston works and discuss all the elements involved in keeping you and your needs at the center of your treatment plan.
The noninvasive brain stimulation we offer at our Houston clinic functions using two basic elements of physics—electricity and magnetism. By allowing electricity and magnetism to work cooperatively, TMS therapy can target and activate certain regions of your brain. The magnetic coil that delivers the impulse is placed near the scalp so that your brain is in the magnetic field. This magnetic field then interacts with the electrical network in your brain. The magnetic field can stimulate electrical activity, helping dormant neural pathways become active. TMS therapy targets the regions of your brain related to your emotions, helping to modify your mood.
TMS therapy targets the emotional centers of your brain, directing the treatment toward very specific areas. Our Houston TMS treatment programs work by stimulating brain regions that are underactive, triggering new activity, and helping rebuild the neural networks in the regions of the brain responsible for your feelings of pleasure and internal decision-making. The targeting ability of TMS therapy means that you get treatment directly at the points in your brain where it is most needed and most effective.
Our team in Houston will explain how TMS treatment produces results. During a TMS therapy session, you will first remove any jewelry or metallic material before taking a seat in the treatment chair. The technician will then provide you with hearing protection, as the magnet makes a sound that some consider loud. Our skilled provider will then place the magnetic coil in the proper location to target the appropriate area of your brain.
The technician may use some single-pulse stimulation to help you adjust to the feeling of the treatment. Once you are comfortable, the technician will begin the treatment. You may feel a tapping sensation as the technician increases the strength of the magnet. You may even experience twitching in your hands. The operator may use this to determine whether the pulse strength has reached the appropriate level. The technician will apply magnetic pulses in a particular pattern depending on your needs.
As you undergo TMS therapy, you may feel pressure on your scalp. Other side effects that you may experience include mild headaches, but many report that most side effects lessen as their treatment regimen continues from week to week.
Reach out and schedule a consultation today to learn how TMS therapy in Houston works. Our skilled team at Memorial Park Psychiatry is happy to answer any questions about TMS therapy you may have to help you discover whether this treatment is right for you.