Am I a Good Candidate for TMS Treatment?

When it comes to mental health, no single treatment method works for everyone. You may need to try many forms of therapy and different psychiatric medications to find the right combination that helps relieve your depression or anxiety symptoms.

Even then, therapy and medications may not be enough. If you have depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that’s not improving with medication and talk therapy, it’s time to consider transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

TMS is a noninvasive treatment that may provide lasting relief.

Dr. Hina Sidhu and our team of mental health experts at Reviv Functional Psychiatry & TMS Wellness Center in Fullerton, California, specialize in TMS  treatment. TMS isn’t a first-line treatment, but it can help when other treatments fail.

Are you a candidate for TMS treatment? 

What is TMS?

TMS is a noninvasive medical treatment that uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate brain cells and increase activity. Your brain cells use electrical signaling to communicate and trigger the release of chemicals (neurotransmitters) that regulate body functions like mood. 

Changes in brain chemistry and neural activity seem to play a role in the development of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Many psychiatric medications relieve symptoms by altering the balance of the brain chemicals that manage mood and thoughts.

TMS treatment works on the electrical signaling part of the brain to relieve symptoms. It targets under-performing areas of the brain that manage mood, increasing activity to improve symptoms.

Are you a candidate for TMS?

Currently, TMS treatment is FDA-approved for people with major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, it’s only recommended when traditional interventions for MDD and OCD fail to provide improvements in symptoms.

If you have severe depression or OCD and you’ve tried multiple medications and therapies with no relief, then you might be a candidate for TMS treatment. Our team can talk to you about TMS and complete a comprehensive evaluation to see if TMS can help you.

We don’t recommend TMS for people who have a cochlear implant, a metal plate in the skull, or a history of seizures.  

What to expect with TMS

TMS is an in-office treatment that requires no special preparation before or downtime after the procedure. Although relatively painless, the magnetic pulses cause a tapping sensation that can feel unusual.

While seated in the TMS chair, we position the magnetic device near the area of the brain responsible for your symptoms. We activate the magnet, gradually increasing strength until we reach the target pulse. 

Then, we set a pulse pattern, delivering rapid bursts of magnetic energy for a few seconds, followed by a quick pause. This pattern repeats for the duration of your treatment, which usually takes 30 minutes or less.

You may have a mild headache after therapy, but you can drive and resume your usual activities. The TMS protocol requires repeating therapy five days a week for up to six weeks.

The results aren’t immediate, but you may notice improvements in symptoms within a few weeks. If successful, your symptoms may resolve entirely once you complete your treatments. We recommend continuing psychiatric medications and therapy while undergoing TMS to gain the most benefits.

TMS treatment is highly effective, but it doesn’t work for everyone. If you don’t experience improvements in symptoms within a few weeks, we discontinue and try other therapies.

Are you a candidate for TMS treatment? Call us today at 714-868-8514 to schedule an appointment with our psychiatrist to learn more about TMS and how it might benefit you.