Depression is a debilitating disorder that can affect every aspect of a person’s life. It can weigh down the mind, body, and soul, and make it hard to carry out even the simplest daily activities.
For centuries, scientists have been working to find ways to treat this mental health disorder, which can be detrimental to a person’s quality of life. Those suffering with depression have tried various remedies, and, now that they are available, advanced technological developments.
One of those advanced remedies is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, a clinically proven treatment for depression that medical specialists have used for decades. Our team at Genesis TMS and Wellness offers this therapy to clients who have not been helped by traditional treatments for depression. Here is a bit more about the history of TMS therapy.
TMS therapy is a non-invasive treatment for major depressive disorder and other mental health disorders that reactivates regions of the brain that demonstrate decreased activity. This treatment does so by using magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain that are involved in mood control.
Throughout the history of TMS’s use, this procedure has proven to be highly effective in treating depression, especially in cases where medications or other therapies have not been successful. Based on data available from health care providers, the vast majority of patients experience some level of relief (Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affect Disord, 277:65 74. Based on a real-world, retrospective study using CGI-S and a sample size of 615 patients). This makes it an effective treatment for depression currently available. It is safe and generally well-tolerated, without the common systemic side effects of medications.
TMS therapy was developed by Dr. Anthony Barker and his colleagues in 1985. Although TMS was initially created to study the motor system and pathology of neuropsychiatric illnesses, Barker was optimistic about the procedure’s therapeutic potential. His team began reworking the technology to make it as effective as possible in reawakening regions of the brain that are associated with depression.
By the early 2000s, TMS had fully transitioned from a research tool to a mental health treatment. In 2008, NeuroStar TMS received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a safe and clinically proven therapy for depression. At this point in its history, this therapy is used worldwide and is still being studied to understand the full scope of its potential.
A significant moment in TMS’s history came in 2008, when NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy received FDA-clearance. It is now the No. 1 physician-recommended TMS technology and has been producing positive results for over two decades.
NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy, which we offer at Genesis TMS and Wellness, has proven to be highly successful in lifting mood. After undergoing this treatment, 83 percent of patients experienced significant improvement in depressive symptoms , and 62 percent felt full remission from depression (Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affect Disord, 277:65 74. Based on a real-world, retrospective study using CGI-S and a sample size of 615 patients).
The history of TMS therapy, along with data gathered from real patients, show that this procedure is a consistently beneficial treatment for depression with or without anxiety and OCD. TMS therapy can offer significant relief for those who struggle with depression, especially if other treatments have not succeeded in helping them.
At Genesis TMS and Wellness, we are committed to supporting you on your journey toward improved mental health. NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy can lift the weight of depression and help you feel better, so contact our office today to speak with our qualified team!
