Everyone experiences feelings of sadness or depression occasionally, but when those feelings interfere with your daily life activities and last for two or more weeks, you may be struggling with major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression.
Depression is treatable. With medication and talk therapy, many people can manage their symptoms. However, medication does not work for everyone. Some data suggests that antidepressant medications can potentially help only 20 more people in every 100 than a placebo. Other data found that 66% of those treated with antidepressants were resistant to treatment.
When you have clinical depression and antidepressant medications have not improved your symptoms, NeuroStar TMS treatments give you another choice. You may be a candidate for NeuroStar TMS Therapy in Houston.
NeuroStar TMS applies transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using a proprietary device. TMS therapy uses magnetic fields to directly influence brain activity. While antidepressant medications work systemically (throughout the body) and can cause significant side effects, TMS therapy is directed at the area of the brain responsible for mood disorders such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The treatment is non-invasive, which means the device does not penetrate your skin. Instead, it uses a magnetic coil to impact the brain’s natural electrical activity. Because the brain is electrically active, TMS can target specific areas to help stimulate brain activity.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TMS therapy for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines, and smoking cessation. The results have been so successful that research is also underway to determine how TMS therapy may positively impact other brain-related conditions, such as eating disorders, addictions, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury.
NeuroStar TMS uses focused magnetic pulses like those used during an MRI. NeuroStar TMS is not shock therapy, surgery, or a drug. Instead, it energizes areas of the brain that are not as electrically active as they should be. NeuroStar TMS has demonstrated an 83% measurable improvement and 62% complete remission as compared to the 66% taking antidepressants who are resistant to treatment.
To be eligible for NeuroStar TMS therapy, you must meet certain mental and physical health requirements. Most individuals with major depressive disorder who have been treatment-resistant are approved for TMS therapy. Others with OCD, chronic migraines, and those who want to stop smoking may also qualify.
Some physical conditions could make you ineligible for the treatment. For example, individuals who have a history of seizures or seizure disorder should not have electromagnetic impulses directed into the brain, and women who are pregnant or nursing are not candidates for NeuroStar TMS therapy in Houston.
While ongoing research is evaluating how NeuroStar TMS may positively impact a traumatic brain injury, severe head trauma is another disqualifying physical condition. Brain tumors, increased intracranial pressure, cerebral vascular disease, and dementia are also physical conditions that disqualify you from receiving NeuroStar TMS therapy in Houston. Individuals who have conductive metal implants in or around the head, such as a cochlear implant, vagus nerve stimulator, or deep brain stimulator are also not eligible.
The effectiveness of NeuroStar TMS therapy in the treatment of depression is impressive and has made it the top physician-recommended TMS therapy. FDA clearance and a safe and effective treatment record mean it is covered by most major insurance companies for the treatment of major depressive disorder and major depressive disorder with anxious depression.
FDA approval for the treatment of OCD is prompting other insurance companies to add it to their list of covered conditions. When you are seeking treatment for any FDA-approved condition using NeuroStar TMS therapy, it is worth asking your insurance provider about the coverage levels offered. Complying with all requested documentation before treatment begins is the best way to receive your maximum insurance benefits and find out whether you are a good candidate for Neurostar TMS Therapy in Houston.
When you struggle with treatment-resistant depression, there is another option. Candidates for NeuroStar TMS Therapy in Houston could receive a safe and effective treatment that has given thousands relief from symptoms of depression and helped those with OCD and chronic migraines. Call our office today to schedule your consultation and discover how these short, in-office treatments could reduce your symptoms or eliminate them altogether.
