Depression can cast a shadow over every aspect of your life. The light inside you can feel dimmed, and even small tasks can feel hard. Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the United States, affecting over 8% of the adult population.
While there are many treatments for depression currently available, medication is often unsuccessful and comes with a hefty list of side effects. For those who have not had success with other methods, TMS therapy can be a miracle treatment for your depression. Genesis is here to help you learn about the science behind TMS and depression.
Depression is a mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things or activities you once enjoyed.
The science behind depression is complex and involves a number of factors. Chemicals in the brain that help send signals throughout the nervous system called neurotransmitters help regulate mood, energy, and pleasure. Science shows that an imbalance of these neurotransmitters may play a role in causing depression.
Research also indicates that the level of activity in certain regions of the brain can contribute to depressed feelings. The amygdala is one area of the brain that processes emotions like fear and sadness. In people with depression, it is thought that the amygdala is overactive, which creates a negative outlook on how one views themselves and the world around them. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which regulates emotions and decision-making, also may not work as efficiently in people with depression.
NeuroStar TMS therapy is a non-invasive treatment that administers magnetic pulses to stimulate neurotransmitters and reactivate regions of the brain involved in mood control. Since science indicates that neurotransmitter imbalance and decreased brain activity are two main factors that contribute to depression. TMS therapy was developed with innovative technology that works to balance the brain both chemically and functionally.
Magnetic coils are placed on the scalp to generate a magnetic field. The energy waves do not emit radiation. These coils then create pulses that send small electrical currents through the skull and into specific areas of the brain. The speed of the pulse is tailored to the needs of each part of the brain — for example, low-frequency pulses tend to decrease overactive parts of the brain such as the amygdala, while high-energy pulses reawaken underactive regions like the prefrontal cortex. Over time, this stimulation improves the function of your brain and nervous system, and helps you to manage mental health systems more effectively.
TMS Therapy taps into the brain’s ability to adapt over time, also known as neuroplasticity. TMS consists of subsequent sessions spaced weeks apart. This is done to “retrain” the brain to form new and lasting connections between neurotransmitters and reset brain activity to reach an optimal balance. TMS Therapy is not just a temporary solution — it is formulated to produce long lasting results through 12 months (Dunner DL, et al. (2014). J Clin Psychiatry, 75(12):1394-1401).
While NeuroStar TMS is proven to be highly effective in managing the symptoms of major depressive disorder, it has also shown promise for many other mental health concerns. It is FDA-cleared to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as depression with comorbid anxiety.
NeuroStar TMS Therapy has proven to be effective for people who have not had success with medication or other treatments, and is a natural, non-invasive way to support your brain to heal itself. At Genesis, we want you to understand the science behind TMS and depression so that you can feel comfortable and confident in the treatment you are receiving. Contact us today to speak with our dedicated team in our Fairfax or Alexandria office.
