How to Use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, which involves sending a relatively weak electrical current to excite electrons in the brain, has been found in recent studies to be an effective treatment for depression. By consulting with your mental health professional, you can find out if transcranial magnetic stimulation, a relatively new yet exciting technology, is a viable option to treat your specific type of depression.

Things You'll Need

• Magnetic resonance imager (MRI)
• Doctor or mental health professional
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) equipment, including helmet, coil and magnets

Instructions

Use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression

1. Ask your doctor or mental health professional if you are a viable candidate for transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat your depression. TMS is often reserved for patients who have not responded well to prescription medication such as antidepressants or psychotherapy. Since this is a relatively new area of research, your health care professional may or may not be familiar with TMS.

2. Have a doctor explain the TMS procedure to you fully before you commit to having it done. In TMS, a large magnetic field is aimed at the left prefrontal cortex of the brain in order to stimulate electron activity. People who suffer from depression often have a reduced amount of activity in that part of the brain.

3. Find out the differences between single TMS treatments, where the magnetic stimulation generally does not affect brainwaves beyond the period of treatment, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (known as rTMS), which is a more extensive treatment that may produce longer effects on motor behavior. Recent studies have shown that the increased brain activity after rTMS treatments can continue for as long as 8 months.

4. Familiarize yourself with the apparatus used to administer transcranial magnetic stimulation. While the different devices can vary greatly from clinic to clinic, the TMS equipment usually consists of a plastic helmet that contains a coil that can be magnetically charged by a large magnet. It should be noted that the patient rarely notices any effects from the TMS apparatus and that it is completely painless.

5. Use transcranial magnetic stimulation in conjunction with an magnetic resonance imager (MRI), which can take images of the brain that can document the success of the TMS treatments. This combination of technologies has been proven to work particularly well with rehabilitating stroke victims.

Tips & Warnings

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation is being used for a variety of different conditions, including auditory hallucinations, migraines, obsessive-compulsive disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, tinnitus and even stroke rehabilitation.