TMS: An Unorthodox New Treatment Against Depression

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a FDA approved treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Traditionally psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants and antipsychotic medications as the first methods of treatment for MDD, however each patient is different and sometimes this method of treatment is ineffective. TMS is a different method of treatment that works side by side with medication that targets specific areas of the patient's brain. It is well established that depression and other mood disorders are associated with specific brain regions. TMS safely activates these areas using strong electromagnets. This electromagnetic coil of the TMS device creates a magnetic field that is specifically targeted over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which is the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation. These enter the skull and activate nerve cells in the desired location. This method gradually makes that area of the brain more active, which is thought to have an impact on many brain networks involved in mood regulation. Harvard Health studies show that theResponse to treatment means a 50% or greater reduction in symptoms; remission means the absence of symptoms defined in each scale. In many cases, patients return to TMS therapy and continue to see improvement in their prognosis.  One patient reported after a round of TMS treatment, “It’s as if it’s a really black fog and then all of a sudden you realize it’s not as black as it was, then you realize it’s turned gray, then you can start to see your feet, and then there’s sunshine”. Dr. Leuchter MD, distinguished professor of psychiatry and director of the TMS program and of the Neuromodulation Division of the Semel Institute, even believes that the neuroplasticity increases with every treatment as each day the patient is increasing their exposure to the stimulus. Dr. Vincent Chen used TMS as a form of electrical stimulation (ES) to induce motor cortex activity in individuals who have a history of stroke. Chen's experiment was specifically looking to measure the changes in EEG-EMG coherence, which is the synchronization between the electrical activity of the brain and the electrical activity of the muscles during movement. His study found that the intervention led to improvement of motor function of individuals. TMS and ES are beginning to be further tested and pushed to determine their viability as a clinical medicine, thus we shall see how effective each is at treating mental illnesses 

 

Works cited:

Stern, Adam P. “Breakthrough in Brain Stimulation Offers Cautious Hope for Depression.” Harvard Health, 19 Oct. 2022, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/breakthrough-in-brain-stimulation-offers-cautious-hope-for-depression-202210192836. 

Smith, Leo. “After Years of Depression, Gentle Electromagnetic Stimulation of the Brain May Provide Relief.” UCLA Health System, 14 Mar. 2023, www.uclahealth.org/news/after-years-depression-gentle-electromagnetic-stimulation.