TMS Therapy in Los Angeles

Anyone who is suffering from depression, anxiety, or another mental health disorder may benefit from TMS therapy. Of course, as a relatively recent treatment modality, certain conditions are better researched than others when it comes to TMS. Depression, for instance, is the most well-studied condition – and there is a large body of research supporting TMS’ efficacy in depression treatment. The list of conditions TMS treats is ever-growing, though. It is important to recognize, too, that TMS has performance benefits even for people who are mentally healthy.

TMS is most frequently recommended to individuals who have tried to treat their condition with conventional methods and had little success. Medications and talk therapy do not always reduce the symptoms of depression or other mental health conditions. TMS therapy is extremely effective at mitigating the impact of treatment-resistant depression. Ultimately, however, the best way to determine if you are a good candidate for TMS is to talk to a mental health clinician. At Lucid, our Los Angeles psychiatrists, clinicians, and staff members can evaluate you to assess your needs and develop an appropriate and effective treatment plan.

TMS is a non-invasive, painless, and very safe procedure. Nonetheless, there are a few groups of people who should not engage in this type of treatment. Because TMS involves magnetic pulses, individuals who have implanted medical devices or metals inside of their bodies should not do TMS. Furthermore, people who have significant brain damage or a history of seizures are somewhat more likely to experience side effects during TMS treatment, making them less than ideal candidates.

Yes! Depression is generally best treated using a combination of different methods. While TMS may have many advantages over prescription drugs and talk therapy, that doesn’t mean those methods should be abandoned. Depending on your individual case history and needs, your psychiatrist may recommend taking depression medication while undergoing TMS therapy. Many patients discover that TMS therapy is so effective that they no longer need to be on antidepressants, while others are delighted to learn that TMS actually made their medications more effective. The best way to answer this question is to talk to a psychiatrist at Lucid.

Since TMS is neither a medication nor a surgery, the procedure has very limited side effects, and in many cases it has none at all. The few occasional side effects that clients experience are scalp discomfort, mild headaches, and minor discomfort in the face and jaw. For most people, these side effects are so mild as to be hardly noticeable. They tend to disappear after a few days or weeks. Even clients who do notice these symptoms rarely find them bothersome enough to discontinue treatment.