Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects a little more than one percent of adults in the United States. For unknown reasons, women are three times more likely to be affected than men. While many people find relief from their symptoms with prescription medications, up to 40 percent do not. When you are looking for an alternative to your current treatment or something to add to improve the treatment of your OCD, you should consider transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy.
In the past ten years, researchers have shown that NeuroStar® TMS therapy can help treat OCD. It is usually added to other treatments and can be especially helpful when other forms of treatment—such as medications and talk therapy—are not working well. Dr. Deirmenjian has over 14 years of experience treating patients with TMS Therapy for OCD in Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Long Beach. Call to schedule a consultation today.
TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas in your brain that have been found to be involved in OCD. While TMS is a brain treatment, it is not electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It is much gentler, as only specific areas of your brain will be stimulated, not your entire brain. The goal is to stimulate specific areas of nerves so that they function normally. When nerves are not firing as they should, it can lead to various mental illnesses. Reawakening those nerves and synapses (or connections) restores your brain to its normal functioning.
The NeuroStar TMS treatment device contains magnetic coils. The unique design helps target magnetic energy at the areas of your brain that need treatment. Short magnetic pulses create tiny electrical currents in the treatment areas, which stimulate the nerves for better functionality.
TMS treatment sessions for OCD are completed in our Beverly Hills office. Your TMS treatment plan will be completely personalized, but sessions are usually about 40 minutes long. Most patients are seen every weekday for four to seven weeks.
You may be asked to expose yourself to one or more of your OCD triggers right before a session. This may seem strange, but it will get the treatment areas primed, creating better effects.
Since there is no need for anesthesia, you will be fully awake and alert. You may feel a tapping sensation or mild pain right under the magnetic device. There will be loud clicking sounds coming from the device so we supply earplugs for your comfort. Some patients will have mild muscle twitches during the session but those disappear when the session is over.
Once a treatment is complete you are able to return to your usual activities. You will not be confused or forgetful, so you are perfectly safe driving and caring for others. If you have a lingering mild headache, a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen will take care of it.
Each person is different, so predicting exactly how long the effects of the TMS therapy will last is impossible. Current research has shown that many patients will have at least three months of significant relief. TMS therapy can be repeated as needed to help keep your OCD symptoms at bay. Since TMS is usually added on to other treatments such as medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, you will usually continue those treatments throughout TMS treatment cycle and afterwards.
If your current treatments for OCD are not working as you had hoped, it is time to make an appointment to discuss and learn more about TMS therapy for OCD in Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Long Beach. It can add that final piece of the treatment puzzle so that your OCD will back down. Call Premier TMS Centers of Los Angeles today to explore your options.
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy system is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.
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