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BY DUSTIN BUTLER
Brain simulation therapy could help mood disorders, doctor says For individuals experiencing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, Psychiatrist Dr. Ronald Moomaw with Salience Health said a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy could help. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, is a treatment that uses magnetic elds to stimulate speci c areas of the brain to treat depression. Salience Health, which o ers the treatment and accepts most major insurances, has locations in Allen, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney and Plano, accord- ing to its website. Dr. Moomaw spoke to Community Impact about how TMS works and what individuals seeking this treatment may need to know. What is TMS therapy, and how does it work? TMS Therapy is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that uses gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate speci c areas of the brain associated with mood regulation. At Salience Health, TMS is used to target the salience network—the part of the brain responsible for helping you lter what’s important and how you respond to stress, emotions and daily life. By stimulating these pathways, TMS helps “wake up” areas of the brain that may not be working optimally in peo- ple struggling with depression and other major mood disorders. Over time, this can help restore healthier brain activity patterns. How is it di erent from other treatments? The biggest di erence with TMS is that it targets the salience network directly, without the systemic side e ects often seen with medication. It’s non-in- vasive, doesn’t require anesthesia, and patients are awake during treatment, which typically lasts about 10 to 15 minutes a day for six weeks. At Salience Health, TMS is part of a personalized, measure- ment-based treatment plan called the Collaborative Depression Care Program. This program looks at the whole picture of your health, not just your symptoms. What symptoms does TMS help treat? It’s most commonly used for depression and anx- iety—especially when medications haven’t worked— but our patients have reported improvements in: • Sleep problems • Low energy • Lack of motivation
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is used to treat depression and other major mood disorders.
• Di culty concentrating • Mood swings
Additionally, emerging evidence supports its use for obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, bipolar disorder, and certain symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Basically, if someone’s depression is showing up in ways that are really a ecting their daily life, TMS can help retrain the brain to function in a healthier way. Who is a candidate for TMS? We usually recommend TMS for people who have tried at least one antidepressant, but the results were not what they were hoping for, or maybe the side e ects were just too di cult to manage. It’s also a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on medication long-term, or who’s looking for a treatment that addresses the root of the problem, which in many cases comes down to brain function itself. What does a typical course of treatment look like? It’s pretty straightforward—most people come in ve days a week for about six to eight weeks. Each session lasts around 10 to 15 minutes. You’re awake the whole time, and you can drive yourself home right after—there’s no downtime. Are there patients for whom TMS is not recommended? Yes—there are some safety guidelines. For example, if someone has a history of seizures or if they have metal implants in or near their head, like certain medical devices, TMS is not an option.
PHOTOS COURTESY SALIENCE HEALTH
That’s why we always do a thorough screening rst to make sure it’s safe. There are many people struggling with depression or anxiety, especially when other treatments haven’t worked; it can be a life-changing option.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
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