The first line of treatment for depression is typically antidepressant medications. However, many people do not experience measurable results from these drugs and experience side effects that are challenging to live with.
Clinical depression is more than occasional sadness. A diagnosis of depression requires symptoms that last for at least two weeks or more and significantly affect your life. You may experience fatigue, changes in sleep or eating patterns, or loss of energy. Individuals who do not respond to medication are said to have treatment-resistant depression.
To make an informed decision, it is important to know the differences between TMS therapy vs. ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). Each has advantages and disadvantages.
TMS stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation, and ECT is also known as shock therapy. The exact pathways that TMS and ECT use to improve symptoms of depression are not well understood.
However, evidence shows the treatments have a positive impact. It can help reduce symptoms in individuals who have treatment-resistant depression and, in the case of ECT, in those with severe symptoms. Using imaging studies, researchers noticed that the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation was not as active in individuals with depression as in those without depression.
The application of magnetic fields to these areas helps improve neurological activity and reduce the symptoms of depression. NeuroStar TMS therapy is also approved for the treatment of anxious depression and as an adjunctive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
ECT is recommended for individuals who have severe symptoms of depression that are resistant to other treatment modalities and when individuals present a risk of harm to themselves or others.
During TMS treatment, you are seated in a chair that looks like the one you find in your dentist’s office. The NeuroStar padded coil is placed against your head to deliver targeted magnetic pulses to the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation.
TMS therapy does not target magnetic pulses to other areas of the brain. Treatment does not use anesthesia or sedation. After your treatment session, you can go about the rest of your day. One TMS treatment cycle typically includes five treatments per week for six weeks.
ECT is a short-term treatment for depression. The treatment is done under general anesthesia, and you may need to stay in the hospital overnight. Electrodes are fitted to your head and small electric currents are passed through the brain.
This intentionally triggers a brief seizure. You are also given muscle relaxants to help prevent any musculoskeletal injury from the seizure.
To decide which therapeutic option of TMS therapy vs. ECT is best for you, you should understand the benefits and the side effects. The ideal candidate for TMS therapy is someone with treatment-resistant depression or who wants to avoid the side effects associated with antidepressant medications.
The most common side effects of TMS therapy are sensations of tapping, tingling, or warmth in the area where the NeuroStar coil is applied to the scalp. Other individuals may also experience a toothache, headache, or pain on the skin at the application site. These side effects resolve spontaneously, and most individuals do not experience them by the second week of treatment. Results can last six months or more.
ECT is associated with several cognitive and medical side effects after the procedure. People with pre-existing heart disease may experience temporary blood pressure elevation, heart arrhythmias, and other severe complications.
After the treatment, many individuals experience muscle fatigue, jaw pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, insomnia, and headache. Cognitive impairments have been reported, including loss of memory function. Some individuals experience memory lapses directly before and after the treatment.
Autobiographical memory may also be impaired up to three weeks after the procedure. Other cognitive impairments have included problems with attention span, learning and memory, and executive functioning.
If you have depression symptoms that have not responded to traditional treatment or would like to avoid the side effects typically associated with antidepressant medications, we encourage you to contact us and schedule a consultation.
