Major depressive disorder is often a difficult condition to treat, and many who have depression have tried lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication without any significant improvement or with many side effects. Here’s where transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can help! TMS is a rapidly growing non-invasive and insurance-backed treatment for depression that has been FDA-approved since 2008. Using magnetic pulses, TMS stimulates the brain in a way that has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression in most patients. It’s extremely safe and most TMS patients experience no significant adverse effects!
How exactly does TMS work? TMS uses state of the art technology to deliver magnetic pulses deep into the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a brain region involved in depression and mood regulation. Research studies have shown that TMS can increase brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a chemical that supports neuronal growth. MRI studies have also shown that functional connectivity between the DLPFC and other important brain regions implicated in depression can improve with successful TMS treatment.
Here at Houston Mind and Brain, we are proud to partner with Brainsway to offer top-of-the-line TMS services under the supervision of Dr. Raymond Cho MD, a board-certified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience in the field. If therapy and medication have not helped with your depression and you’re interested in learning more about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Houston, you can give us a call at (832) 699-7922!