Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – Treatment for Depression Explained

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is a non-invasive treatment for depression that uses gentle pulses of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It works differently than standard antidepressant medications, like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but without their undesirable side effects such as weight changes and sexual dysfunction. Dr. Katharine Marder, a psychiatrist at UC Davis Health who specializes in treatment-resistant depression, explains how TMS therapy works, which patients could consider it as an option, and what side effects can occur.

Learn more about the Advanced Psychiatric Therapeutics (APT) Clinic at UC Davis: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/new-clinic-for-treatment-resistant-depression-opens-at-uc-davis-health/2024/04

——

UC Davis Medical Center is a nationally recognized academic medical center offering primary care for all ages, specialty care in 150 fields, and the latest treatment options and expertise for the most complex health conditions. UC Davis Medical Center serves a 65,000-square-mile area that includes 33 counties and 6 million residents across Northern and Central California. The medical center typically admits approximately 30,000 patients per year and handles more than 900,000 visits, while the emergency room sees more than 200 patients per day on average.

UC Davis Medical Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/cancer/
UC Davis School of Medicine: https://health.ucdavis.edu/medical-school/
Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis: https://health.ucdavis.edu/nursing/
UC Davis MIND Institute: https://health.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCDavisHealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucdavishealth/

——

0:00 What is treatment-resistant depression?
0:22 What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?
0:38 TMS treatment explained
1:25 TMS therapy for depression
1:50 TMS side effects and recovery
2:12 Benefits of TMS therapy

The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 4/23/24. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.

#depression #depressiontreatment #tms #ucdavis

31 Comments

  1. TMS CAN BE DANGEROUS.
    It ruined my wife's life.

    She had one session and suffered a mild brain injury and post concussive syndrome from it. She used to run marathons, teach yoga often, and work. After TMS, she could no longer do any of those things.
    If you do get TMS:
    1. Consider if you really need this. Get multiple medical opinions.
    2. Wear ear protection.
    3. If you feel lots of pain, stop immediately. I don't care what the medical staff says, DON'T continue.
    4. See #1.

  2. Thank you for the informative video! (i really appreciated the lowered background sounds of the treatment and Dr. Marder's calm & confident voiceover) The length of treatment (6 weeks) is making me pause in proceeding forward… but I'm glad the option exists.

  3. gentle my butt. It feels like a jackhammer going through your head and it’s on your temporary loaves which you know that’s cognitive functions and other things I had to put sticky notes all over my house to say this is the refrigerator. This is the freezer turn off your car. Here’s your keys, my husband left me because he couldn’t deal with it anymore. I couldn’t keep my brain functioning. I left my car running for eight hours when I was in my CBT training class I have the stimulator ocular reflex. I have vertigo. I have so many things now that I don’t recommend it for anybody I think it’s just a money maker and it screws people up.

  4. I began treatment today. There was no pain at all I am very relaxed and still feeling euphoric 9 hours later. I’m hoping this works. I’ve been on antidepressants and anti anxiety pills for more than a decade

  5. Makes me wonder if this is why I don’t mind a brain MRI. Something about the sound soothes me and I wonder if the magnetic field also makes me feel happier. This is very interesting for someone like me. I’ve lived with chronic depression for 50 years and the medications just make things worse.

  6. Why does this feel like one of those things we’ll later find out is really harmful? I’m guessing you don’t know much about how it impacts the vagus nerve and the systems connected to it.

  7. I have a relative that has suffered from severe depression for many decades with multiple S_attempts. Hes tried countless medications and therapies. He just had his first day of TMS and we will be observing the results. How TMS can affects the brain can be a bit unpredictable but for some people its a no loss situation

  8. I think if a person is miss diagnosed it definitely could be a problem. However, my son did a full 6 weeks and he is back to being himself and is extremely grateful. My son has been in therapy for years and has been on multiple medications but he never gave up. He still needs medication but is now on a very low dose and on a very organic diet and he’s doing fantastic.
    I guess what’s important is to keep trying on what works for you. Our mental health care system is flawed and needs direction but that doesn’t mean give up.
    I wish you all good spirits, love and peace and most importantly good health ❤️

  9. I wonder if this helps those with BPD? Or for sleep? My mother is Borderline (BPD) she is untreated and is terrified of talk therapy. Her amygdala is overactive. where their nerves are always tense and

Leave A Reply