NeuroStar TMS Therapy for Depression
Dr. Mindy Werner-Crohn and her staff are pleased to announce the availability of the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system for the treatment of depression.
About NeuroStar TMS Therapy
NeuroStar TMS Therapy is a ground-breaking and highly successful treatment cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients suffering from depression. It is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adult patients who have not experienced satisfactory outcomes from one prior antidepressant medication when taken at or above the minimal effective dose and duration in their current episode. Whether the side effects were too difficult to tolerate, or you simply did not feel any changes, TMS represents viable alternative to further antidepressant courses.
How does NeuroStar TMS Therapy work?1
TMS stands for "transcranial magnetic stimulation". Using MRI-strength magnetic pulses delivered through a treatment coil, cells within the left prefrontal cortex are activated. This area of the brain is involved with mood regulation, and it is believed that this activation releases neurotransmitters associated with alleviating the symptoms of depression. The magnetic fields do not directly affect the whole brain; they only reach about 2-3 centimeters into the brain directly beneath the treatment coil.
The treatment is localized to the part of the brain believed to be affected in depression, and is considered non-systemic. This means that unlike medications taken orally, which circulate in the blood stream, NeuroStar TMS Therapy will not affect your whole body and produce various uncomfortable or intolerable side effects. Further, the treatment lasts for only 37 minutes, is non-invasive (it does not require surgery), and is delivered as an outpatient treatment from our offices. No sedation is required and you can drive to and from your appointments with no impairment. The typical initial treatment course consists of 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 20-30 total treatments.
What are the Benefits and Risks of NeuroStar TMS Therapy?
Neurostar TMS Therapy has been demonstrated to be safe and tolerable.2 Over 10,000 active treatments were safely performed with NeuroStar TMS Therapy during the clinical trials with no side effects such as weight gain, sexual problems, stomach problems, sleepiness, or dry mouth. Additionally, there were no negative effects on patients' memory or ability to concentrate. The most commonly reported side effect related to treatment was scalp pain or discomfort during the treatment session. This side effect was generally mild to moderate, and occurred less frequently after the first week of treatment. Less than 5% of patients treated with NeuroStar TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to these effects.
NeuroStar TMS Therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. In a controlled clinical trial, patients treated with active NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced an average reduction in their depression symptom score of 22.1% compared to a 9% average reduction in patients receiving inactive treatment.3
Call us today to set up a consultation (818) 921-4300.
References:
1. Richelson, E. Mechanics of action of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Psychiatric Annals, 2007; 37 (3):181-187
2. Janicak, Philip G., et al. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Comprehensive Summary of Safety Experience From Acute Exposure, Extended Exposure, and During Reintroduction Treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, January 23, 2008.
3. Lisanby SH, Husain MM, Rosenquist PB, et al. Daily Left Prefrontal Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: Clinical Predictors of Outcome in a Multisite, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Neuropsycholpharmacology, 2009;34(1):522-534.
For the first time in over 10 years, the American Psychiatric Association revised its Guidelines for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder to suggest using TMS for patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from one antidepressant medication at or above the minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode.