Finding the depression treatment that is right for you can be challenging. Each type of therapy is different, and no single therapy will work for everyone. As you try to decide which therapy could be right for you, it is important to consider Houston NeuroStar TMS therapy vs. other treatments.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, non-systemic treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate very specific areas of your brain involved in mood control. It is very different from other depression therapies and may be just what you need to improve your mood.
Antidepressant and mood-stabilizing medications are routinely a first choice when starting depression therapy. They are quick and easy, but it can be easy to forget to take a pill and some people forget more often than others. Forgetting to take your medication too often can decrease your chances for success. It is much harder to forget when you are scheduled for a TMS session and when you miss a TMS appointment, we will call you.
Drugs also have well-known side effects that affect many people who take them. The medication travels through your entire body, affecting other organs, such as your GI tract. Antidepression medications can also affect an unborn child. TMS only affects the area of your brain that is specific to depression. The treatment never leaves your brain, so it will not upset your stomach, and it is considered safe for use during pregnancy.
When one medication does not work, your doctor will usually switch you to a new one or add a second medication. If you are on your third or fourth medication, you have a very low chance of it working, and remission is unlikely with medication alone. With Houston NeuroStar TMS vs. other treatments, people who have failed to find relief from multiple depression medications still have an excellent chance of success. In a recent study, 83 percent of patients who completed the treatment cycle had measurable improvement in their symptoms. That same study also saw a 62 percent remission rate.
TMS is not a form of electroconvulsive therapy, so it does not have the side effect profile that ECT has. Although both are considered noninvasive therapies and are used when other therapies have failed, they are very different.
ECT requires general anesthesia for your comfort and safety. During a treatment session, electrodes are used to deliver current to your brain and induce a seizure. The need for general anesthesia means a longer recovery from each session.
The induction of a generalized seizure means that other parts of your brain are affected during ECT. This leads to retrograde amnesia, the loss of memories. The memories that are lost are usually recent ones, but older memories can disappear, too. Many of your lost memories will return, but some can be lost forever.
Other troublesome side effects of ECT are confusion, difficulty concentrating, and muscle soreness. Due to the mental changes that occur, patients undergoing ECT must take a leave of absence from work and need a consistent caregiver while in treatment.
TMS does not affect your entire brain, so the possibility of having a seizure due to treatment is very small. The side effects of Houston NeurostarTMS therapy are minimal vs. ECT treatments. Most occur only during the treatment session, and those that may last a little longer are easily treated. You can return to your usual activities immediately and continue working throughout TMS therapy. No patient receiving TMS treatment has reported memory loss.
The one advantage that ECT may have over TMS is that ECT may be slightly more effective. Even with this knowledge, most people will try TMS before ECT due to the side effect profile. Neither treatment is guaranteed to work 100 percent of the time, and being able to carry on with life like usual during treatment can be priceless.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can be very helpful in depression treatment. It can decrease stress and anxiety and teach you coping mechanisms. You may be able to work through personal problems but talk therapy cannot treat the neurotransmitter imbalances that are the root cause of depression. TMS directly treats the area of your brain that is malfunctioning. Improvement in how those nerves function will treat depression and associated anxiety.
It can be very difficult to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable sharing personal and intimate thoughts, and many people find talk therapy uncomfortable. We always strive to make TMS therapy as pleasant as possible and will not ask you to share your most personal thoughts during a treatment session.
Talk therapy can be more time-consuming than TMS treatments and requires consistent sessions for a much longer time than TMS therapy. With the newest accelerated treatment protocol, TMS therapy for depression can be completed in one week. Even if you choose the longer protocol, your entire TMS therapy cycle will be shorter than the average amount of time you would need for psychotherapy. TMS sessions are also shorter than the average psychotherapy session.
As you consider the pros and cons of different depression treatments, be sure you are comfortable with the side effect profile and the efficacy of your chosen treatment. Think about how well the treatment will fit into your life. Treatments can be combined to give you the best outcome. After looking at Houston NeuroStar TMS therapy versus other treatments, you will see how TMS therapy may be the perfect solution for your depression. Make an appointment today to start your journey to a better life without depression.
