TMS THERAPY SERVICES
Major Depression Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) consists of recurrent depressive episodes characterized by low mood, poor concentration and energy, disturbance of sleep and appetite, loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, and feelings of guilt or shame. Depression may result in suicide or suicide attempts for many people.
PREGNANCY:
Many women choose to avoid antidepressant medications during pregnancy, but worsening depression symptoms could put patient in great danger. Based on a number of studies, TMS appears to be a promising treatment option for pregnant women who do not wish to take antidepressant medications. Many protocols have used exclusively right sided treatment with slow frequency stimulation to minimize the number of pulses needed to treat an episode. Thus far there have been no untoward effects to the developing baby
BIPOLAR DISORDER
The depression symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are similar to Unipolar Depression (also called Major Depressive Disorder or MDD) and may include an individual being withdrawn from family and friends, showing noticeably little interest in usually pleasurable activities, and perhaps a significant change in weight or sleep. Persons with Bipolar Disorder also tend to have low energy levels during their depressive periods, and may have a hard time concentrating. In its most serious forms, these periods may result in thoughts of death or suicide. Depression symptoms of Bipolar could be managed by TMS treatment after manic symptoms control.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as a disaster, war, torture, accident, fire or violence may lead to PTSD. The traumatic event is re-experienced through recollections, dreams, and feelings. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma is common. TMS may have a role in controlling symptoms of PTSD.
- Patients suffering from depression that also have anxiety components like PTSD can receive a large reduction in anxiety levels, simply as a result of the treatment protocol used in the treatment of Depression. However, in some cases, therapeutic benefit is not fully achieved from depression treatment protocols alone. In this case, supplementary right-sided TMS therapy protocol for Anxiety can be provided.
- The therapeutic application of TMS for anxiety disorders is best understood through Neuroimaging studies. These studies demonstrate that anxiety is visible through elevated activity of the right frontal and hippocampal-parahippocampal regions of the brain, thus low frequency TMS is helpful in reducing hyperexcitability.
- RDLPFC treatments decreased anxiety symptoms by 78% and panic symptoms by 59%, with benefits remaining at one month follow up (Zwanzger et al., 2002).
- The 10 daily treatments of 10-Hz rTMS at 80% motor threshold over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex had therapeutic effects on PTSD patients (Cohen et al., 2005)
- Treatment-resistant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was also markedly improved with TMS treatments to the RDLPFC (McCann et al. 1998).
SELECTED REFERENCES
- Noninvasive brain stimulation with high-frequency and low intensity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for posttraumatic stress disorder. Boggio PS, Rocha M, Oliveira MO, Fecteau S, Cohen RB, Campanhã C, Ferreira-Santos E, Meleiro A, Corchs F, Zaghi S, Pascual-Leone A, Fregni F. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;71(8):992-9. Epub 2009 Dec 29.
- Effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation in posttraumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study. Grisaru N, Amir M, Cohen H, Kaplan Z. Biol Psychiatry. 1998 Jul 1;44(1):52-5.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Panic. Zwanzger et al., Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Feb;159(2):315-6
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. McCann et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry.1998; 55: 276-279.
*At this time, TMS is not FDA-approved for the treatment of PTSD, which would be considered an off label application.
POST-STROKE RECOVERY
Stroke, or cerebral infarction, is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world after heart disease and cancer, and is the leading cause of adult disability. A stroke is caused by a loss of blood supply to the brain, due to an obstruction of a blood vessel. Oxygen deprivation can lead to irreversible damage to the brain – the severity of damage depends on the duration of deprivation. Cerebral infarction damages brain tissue, and leads to neurological deficits and functional impairments according to the brain area that was damaged. Cerebral infarction or stroke can lead to limb paralysis, speech impairment, visual acuity or field deficits, or sensory impairment.
Current treatments: The only FDA-approved therapy for stroke available today is treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a substance that opens obstructed blood vessels. There is a time window of 3.5-4 hours after the onset of a stroke during which this treatment is effective. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can non-invasively stimulate the release of neurotrophic factors (such as BDNF) from nerve terminals in the brain, which can strengthen synaptic connections in relevant brain areas and even stimulate cellular regeneration. A number of studies have established the safety of treating stroke patients with TMS, and have shown that this treatment improves post-stroke recovery. Also, it has been found that TMS therapy in conjunction with physical therapy significantly improves the rate and extent of rehabilitation.
RECENT NEWS ABOUT TMS THERAPY AND POST-STROKE RECOVERY
CHRONIC PAIN
TMS has been shown to have a rapid therapeutic onset for treating various neural disorders with extremely mild or no side effects. TMS is a safe, effective and rapid-acting treatment modality that works by using electromagnetism to stimulate specific parts of the brain.
The human brain is an electrical organ that functions through transmitting electrical signals from one nerve cell to another. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy can stimulate neurons to restore them back to normal functioning.
“Non-invasive unilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex induces analgesic effects in focal chronic pain syndromes, probably by modifying central pain modulatory systems. Neuroimaging studies have shown bilateral activation of a large number of structures, including some of those involved in pain processing, suggesting that such stimulation may induce generalized analgesic effects.” (Passard et. al, 2007)
It could allow these patients to wait for surgical implantation with a good level of pain control, which could not be offered by analgesic drugs. Moreover, rTMS response could be a useful indicator of the success of the subsequent surgical procedure…In conclusion, motor cortex rTMS may be clinically useful in the management of chronic, drug-resistant pain to maintain a satisfactory level of pain relief in selected patients until the implantation of a cortical stimulator.” (Lefaucher et. al, 2004)
FIBROMYALGIA
“Fibromyalgia syndrome is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation ( TMS therapy), raised quality of life and emotional and social well-being among patients suffering from the condition, the researchers found in multiple research studies.
“This improvement is associated with an increase in brain metabolism, which argues for a physical cause for this disorder and for the possibility of changes in areas of the brain to improve the symptoms,” said lead researcher Dr. Eric Guedj, of Aix-Marseille University and the National Center for Scientific Research, in Marseille.
“Previous studies in patients with fibromyalgia have suggested an alteration of brain areas is involved in the regulation of pain and emotion,” he said.
This study demonstrates that it is possible to modulate these brain areas using transcranial magnetic stimulation to correct brain abnormalities and improve patients’ symptoms.
- The 10 daily treatments of 10-Hz rTMS at 80% motor threshold over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex had therapeutic effects on PTSD patients (Cohen et al., 2005)
- Treatment-resistant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was also markedly improved with TMS treatments to the RDLPFC (McCann et al. 1998).
SELECTED REFERENCES
- Short EB, Borckardt JJ, Anderson BS, Frohman H, Beam W, Reeves ST, George MS. Ten sessions of adjunctive left prefrontal rTMS significantly reduces fibromyalgia pain: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Pain. 2011 Nov;152(11):2477-84.
- Mhalla A, Baudic S, Ciampi de Andrade D, Gautron M, Perrot S, Teixeira MJ, Attal N, Bouhassira D. Long-term maintenance of the analgesic effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation in fibromyalgia. Pain. 2011 Jul;152(7):1478-85. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
- Borckardt JJ, Smith AR, Reeves ST, Madan A, Shelley N, Branham R, Nahas Z, George MS. A pilot study investigating the effects of fast left prefrontal rTMS on chronic neuropathic pain. Pain Med. 2009 Jul-Aug;10(5):840-9. Epub 2009 Jul 6.
- Defrin R, Grunhaus L, Zamir D, Zeilig G. The effect of a series of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulations of the motor cortex on central pain after spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007 Dec;88(12):1574-80.
- Khedr EM, Kotb H, Kamel NF, Ahmed MA, Sadek R, Rothwell JC. Longlasting antalgic effects of daily sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in central and peripheral neuropathic pain. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;76(6):833-8.
- Borckardt, J., Reeves, S., Weinstein, M., Smith, A., Shelley, N., Kozel, F., . . . George, M. (2008). Significant analgesic effects of one session of postoperative left prefrontal cortex repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: A replication study. Brain Stimulation, 122-127.
*At this time, TMS is not FDA-approved for the treatment of acute or chronic pain, which would be considered an off label application.
MIGRAINE HEADACHES
If you feel like your migraines have too much control over your life, you are not alone. Many patients are not fully satisfied with drug therapy for migraine treatment or are frequently bothered by medication side effects. Now may be the time for you to consider a new direction. Care First TMS Center is excited to be offering TMS therapy as a treatment for migraine headaches. If you have at least one migraine per month, you may be a perfect candidate for this exciting new treatment option.
TMS AND MIGRAINES
- TMS has been successful at reducing the frequency and duration of migraines in patients.
- Relief from migraines was accomplished as a additional feature to the treatment protocols for depression.
- 10-20 high frequency TMS treatments administered over the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are usually used.
- Please contact us directly to obtain further details.
ALCOHOL
At Care First TMS Center, We recognize that depression could trigger more alcohol use as self medication. It’s crucial to manage depression symptoms as part of any alcohol or drug treatment program.
For those who have tried antidepressant medication while using alcohol or any other drugs found the experience to be less than successful, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may be just the right treatment to help achieve a more positive result.
GAMBLING
Pathological gambling is characterized by a persistent pattern of gambling despite negative consequences. Studies are currently under way to see if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation can interrupt the drive to continued gambling despite a desire to stop.
NICOTINE
According to the American Heart Association, there are nearly 50 million smokers in the United States. The health and financial burdens are well known, but for many, even an intense desire to stop smoking isn’t enough. As with other addictions, if cravings can be controlled the success rate of cessation increases greatly. There have been several studies using TMS to curb nicotine cravings. Imagine the health and cost savings if smoking could be eliminated or drastically reduced.
*At this time, TMS is not FDA-approved for the treatment of addictions, which would be considered an off label application
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by three features, or symptoms, in adults:
- Obsessions, which are unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that trigger distress.
- Compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses to neutralize or counteract a negative feeling or thought.
- 3) Anxiety. OCD can be diagnosed if someone has either obsessions or compulsions, or both.
Onset in adolescence occurs in about a third of cases. In another third symptoms appear in early adulthood, and in the last third they start later in life. If not treated appropriately, the disorder is often chronic, with waxing and waning of symptoms.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder often eases with medications that affect the brain’s serotonergic system, such as clorimipramine (Anafranil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and fluoxetine (Prozac). TMS is being used to reduce the obsessions and anxiety that occurs with OCD. Care First staff developed a protocol that focus on the supplementary motor area using a slow pulse stimulation.
Dr. Phil featured OCD during an episode airing October 2012. The link below shows videos of neuroradiologic studies showing target areas for TMS. The treatment “Bob” received is TMS.
SELECTED REFERENCES
- Modulation of motor cortex excitability in obsessive-compulsive disorder: an exploratory study on the relations of neurophysiology measures with clinical outcome.
Mantovani A1, Rossi S, Bassi BD, Simpson HB, Fallon BA, Lisanby SH.
Psychiatry Res. 2013 Dec 30;210(3):1026-32. abstract - Randomized sham-controlled trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Mantovani A, Simpson HB, Fallon BA, Rossi S, Lisanby SH.
Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2010 Mar;13(2):217-27.
- Safety and efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a review.
Jaafari N, Rachid F, Rotge JY, Polosan M, El-Hage W, Belin D, Vibert N, Pelissolo A.
World J Biol Psychiatry. 2012 Mar;13(3):164-77 - A randomized controlled study of sequentially applied repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Kang JI, Kim CH, Namkoong K, Lee CI, Kim SJ.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;70(12):1645-51. - Effect of prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a preliminary study.
Greenberg BD, George MS, Martin JD, Benjamin J, Schlaepfer TE, Altemus M, Wassermann EM, Post RM, Murphy DL.
Am J Psychiatry. 1997 Jun;154(6):867-9.
*At this time, TMS is not FDA-aproved for the treatment of OCD, which would be considered an off label application.
Anxiety & Panic Disorder:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the brain takes many forms and the response to TMS depends on several factors.
- Magnetic coil type – Each type of TMS machine has a different magnetic coil, and the type of coil affects a number of important parameters. To site two examples, the first approved device in the United States, the Neurostar device from Neuronetics has a figure 8 coil which provides a relatively focal stimulation of the brain, whereas the Brainsway device has an H shaped coil which stimulates a much wider area.
- Location of stimulation – Most of the clinical trials of TMS involved stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (left DLPFC), but many of the clinical trials for the treatment of anxiety look at stimulation of the right DLPFC. There is some evidence to suggest that the effects of right and left DLPFC have somewhat antagonistic facts. And it is worth noting that in some clinical trials of TMS for off label uses stimulation takes place at other far removed places on the cortex. For example the orbitofrontal cortex for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Frequency of stimulation – Most of the clinical trials of TMS used “rapid” stimulation of the cortex at a frequency of 10 Hz. Many of the trials using TMS for anxiety involved “low frequency” TMS at 1 Hz. There has been some suggestion in the literature that these two frequencies also have somewhat antagonistic effects. 1 Hz stimulation has been proposed to exert an inhibitory effect on cortical activity whereas 10 Hz stimulation has been proposed to exert excitatory effects. Thus, in a vastly oversimplified view of the effects of TMS, right 1 Hz stimulation of the DLPFC has somewhat similar effects on the brain as left 10 Hz stimulation of the DLPFC (See George, et al, 1999) .
To illustrate the complexity of all of this, two articles published around 2000 looking at the effect of TMS on mood and anxiety in normal volunteers came to radically different conclusions. Schutter, et al, concluded that right DLPFC 1 Hz stimulation “resulted in
a significant reduction in anxiety.” Jenkins, et al, also looked at right (as well as left) DLPFC 1 Hz stimulation and concluded that there was”no change of mood on a number of measures.”
The Schutter article was one of the first articles to point to 1 Hz right DLPFC stimulation as an potentially effective treatment for anxiety.
Since then other studies have been published looking at the use of TMS for “anxiety disorders” of various kinds. The majority of studies have looked at TMS for the treatment of PTSD, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Read our TMS Therapy FAQ’s for more information