Deep TMS therapy (dTMS) has emerged as a promising treatment for depression.
This advanced form of therapy offers hope to patients who haven’t responded to antidepressants, psychotherapy, or other traditional treatments.
According to the National Library of Medicine, it’s non-invasive, drug-free, and effective in over 79% of patients.
In this article, our experts at Univeral Neurological Care will explain more about deep TMS, the conditions it treats, how it compares to other types of TMS, and the benefits of this innovative therapy.
Deep TMS is a form of brain stimulation therapy that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.
It differs from traditional TMS in that it penetrates deeper into the brain, targeting specific areas associated with mental health conditions.
To penetrate deeper into the brain, dTMS uses a different device with H-coil designed to produce a magnetic field that can reach deeper brain structures.
Currently, the BrainWaves dTMS Device is the only deep transcranial magnetic stimulation device in use.
In comparison, traditional TMS devices like the NeuroStar TMS Device use a figure-eight coil. This is the older and most common type of TMS device, offering more surface-level stimulation.
Deep TMS therapy involves using a specially designed helmet containing magnetic H-coils. During a session, the patient wears this helmet while seated comfortably.
The device generates magnetic pulses that stimulate neurons in the targeted areas of the brain.
For example, irregularities in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala are associated with depression.
When treating depressed patients, the device will target these brain regions.
This stimulation is believed to enhance neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections.
Enhanced neuroplasticity can help relieve symptoms of mental health conditions, such as depression.
Like traditional TMS, deep TMS is most commonly used for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in patients who have not responded to medications or psychotherapy.
As dTMS can reach deeper into the brain, it can also treat other mental health conditions.
In the USA, it has been FDA-cleared for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxious depression, and smoking addiction.
Research suggests that dTMS could also be useful in treating the following conditions and diseases:
Deep TMS as a mental health therapy has several advantages over other treatment options:
Q: What is the success rate of deep TMS?
A: dTMS is highly successful. Research shows that after 30 sessions of deep TMS, 79.4% of depressed patients responded to treatment and 60.3% went into remission.
Q: Is deep TMS better than rTMS?
A: Yes, H-coil used in dTMS devices can safely activate deeper brain regions, resulting in a better response rate among patients across various mental health conditions and neurological disorders.
Q: Is deep TMS safe?
A: Yes, deep TMS is safe and well-tolerated among patients, even in high doses. There is a rare risk of seizures, especially among people with a history of epilepsy.
If you’re suffering from a mental health condition or neurological disorder and want to know if deep TMS is a viable treatment option, we are here to help.
To learn more about TMS or schedule a consultation, contact our team now. We are happy to help!
