TMS treatment centers have helped several patients since the treatment has shown positive results in treating depression. These centers understand that TMS can be done as a walk-in procedure. They place an electromagnet against the patient’s head, close to the forehead, and little magnetic bursts are released to stimulate the brain part responsible for mood control. Typically, TMS treatment centers use TMS as a form of therapy for those suffering from depression and are yet to see any improvement from the traditional treatment in the past. Research is still ongoing, even though it has shown positive results.
How TMS Works
The primary purpose of TMS is to target the brain part responsible for depression and mood control. According to the study, those who suffer from depression may be dealing with the underactive brain part. They use the electromagnetic coil to stimulate and activate this underperforming brain part. Several have seen evidence that the stimulation has relieved the symptoms of depression after activating it, even though they cannot understand this process.
The general acceptance is that the frequency and strength of the pulses may need to be determined regarding the patient’s motor control threshold while there are some modifications in how the treatment is done. The twitches determine this since the doctor performing the therapy can observe it. The patients can even drive themselves home after the treatment without worrying about missing additional work because the procedure is done without sedation and is noninvasive. However, the patient must not undergo TMS in some cases. Patients need to be open to their physicians about what is happening to them to know if TMS is ideal for their situation. Patients must tell their doctors if:
- They have a pre-existing medical condition
- They are taking any medications
- They suffer from a mental health disorder
- They are pregnant
- They have a history of seizures or epilepsy
- They have some implant
TMS doesn’t require any additional medications to fight someone’s craving and remove the temptation that some fall victim to while they recover. Like anything else, TMS has its side effects, though these effects are minimal, and it is a rare occurrence to witness anything more severe. Some of the side effects are:
- Lightheadedness
- Discomfort at the site of stimulation
- Twitching, spasm, or tingling of muscles
- Headaches
Can TMS Treat Addiction?
TMS treatment centers have started using TMS to treat patients for the dangerous symptoms that come with addiction, especially using it as a treatment option for those suffering from depression as a result of withdrawal. They are using TMS to return control over their mood after stimulating their brain. There is also a significant improvement in using TMS for those fighting cravings even when they don’t understand the exact reason. As a study indicates, close to 90 percent of the participant in a survey who received THS treatment for a cocaine addiction got relief from their addiction symptoms after one month.
Researchers still need to do more tests and may not consider this therapy as the end-all-be-all of addiction treatment even though these studies look promising. Like any other thing, professionals only need to include it in a plan involving other treatment medications and therapies.
