Daniel Fusch
Image credit: BrainHealth Solutions
Costa Mesa residents struggling with depression now have access to relatively new therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Saint TMS. TMS therapy for depression in Costa Mesa is a non-invasive, science-backed treatment that is bringing hope to patients who haven’t found relief through medication, talk therapy, or other more conventional approaches.
The Challenge of Treatment-Resistant Depression
There is growing skepticism in the health and wellness community about the efficacy of traditional pharmaceutical approaches to treating depression. Recent studies suggest that CBD or even meditation can rival the positive effects of antidepressants. Some patients, frustrated with antidepressants, turn to Tao practices or music therapy to find relief from their depression. At the same time, antidepressants are not effective for all patients and leave some with difficult-to-manage side effects. In fact, the STAR*D study found that antidepressants were less than 28% effective in treating depression to remission. Yet antidepressants remain the default treatment.
Concerningly, in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) prove almost entirely unresponsive to medicinal and psychotherapeutic treatments. It’s not clear how widespread TRD is, with different studies finding rates between 10% and 30% of MDD patients suffering from TRD. Fortunately, new technologies are bridging the gap in care.
How TMS Works
Despite not being widely known, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has actually been on the market sporadically for a while; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it nearly 15 years ago. A non-invasive treatment, TMS seats the patient in a comfortable chair (similar to a dentist’s chair) and attaches a device to the patient’s head. The device delivers magnetic pulses to targeted areas of the brain. The device produces a quiet tapping sound.
Think of it like turning a flashlight on and off in the dark, dispelling shadows and waking up people who have been sleeping. In the same way, TMS seeks to restore healthy brain activity related to mood and emotional regulation by stimulating neuroplasticity (the brain’s capacity for forming new connections between nerve cells) in areas of the brain where that activity has gone dormant.
There is no anesthesia required; in fact, the patient simply puts in earplugs and then can read or scroll on their phone during the treatment. There is no medication and no recovery time, and the treatment has been shown to improve quality of life, concentration, sleep, and emotional balance. Also, more insurers are covering TMS as it moves into the mainstream.
Local Availability of TMS in Costa Mesa
TMS hasn’t just gone mainstream; it has also gone local. TMS Treatment in Costa Mesa is now accessible through leading local mental health providers, offered as a clinically proven outpatient procedure. For patients suffering from TRD, there is also now Saint TMS Therapy in Costa Mesa. Saint TMS is an accelerated, intensive form of transcranial magnetic stimulation that features higher precision and shorter treatment times. Developed a few years ago at Stanford, this form of “accelerated neuromodulation” may be ideal for patients who need faster outcomes.
What You Need to Know Before Treatment
If you are interested in seeking either Saint TMS or regular TMS therapy for depression in Costa Mesa, here is what you need to know:
- The treatment is drug-free. It is entirely based on the use of a device.
- There can be a few minor side effects, including headaches, scalp discomfort, and facial twitching. (More severe side effects are possible in rare cases.)
- Treatment involves repeated daily sessions, usually over the course of several weeks. Saint TMS is condensed into a one-week treatment plan.
- Most major insurers do not cover TMS unless you have a diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression.
- Evaluation before receiving treatment does require a full mental health history and consultation.
If you’ve been struggling with TRD, TMS could be a breakthrough worth exploring, as it offers a non-invasive treatment for a persistent and life-impacting disorder. To look into TMS further, start a conversation with your primary mental health services provider or a local TMS provider like Brain Health Solutions.