Liz sheets suffers from severe clinical depression. In the past medications had worked, but then they stopped being effective.
“I just felt like I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t have any energy.” says Sheets.
Looking for alternatives, Liz tried a new therapy called “Trans Cranial Magnetic Stimulation”.
This is an MRI magnet that’s focused on one part of your brain. In this case the left prefrontal cortex, stimulating your brain cells to produce more neurotransmitters.
Psychiatrist Dr. Tim Valko says there are some patients with medication resistant depression.
“A lot of people, the brain just doesn’t make them the way you should… Or they break them down too fast.”
The magnet can be used with or without medication. “It stimulates those cells to spit out more neurotransmitters so without medication, you actually kick out more neurotransmitters, which decreases your depression.”
TCMS has been around for 10 years. The FDA approved it for the treatment of depression 2 1/2 years ago. Dr. Valko has been using it for two years.
It’s considered non-invasive. “There’s no medication, there’s no injections, there’s no anesthesia there’s no induced seizures like you would for electroconvulsive therapy,” says Valko.
The sessions last for 19 to 40 minutes, and take at least 20 sessions….Up to 36.
The therapy is also being investigated for use in OCD, Anxiety, and Addiction.