Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta
Psychiatrists located in Atlanta, GA & Decatur, GA
When therapy and medications fail to help your depression or anxiety, it’s time to consider one of today’s most innovative and effective treatments: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). As one of the few local providers of TMS, Bryon K. Evans, MD, and the team at Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta have helped many patients overcome anxiety and depression with a series of safe TMS treatments. To learn how TMS can help you, call the office in Atlanta or Decatur, Georgia, or book an appointment online today.
TMS
What is TMS?
TMS is a safe, painless, and noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate electrical activity in your brain. These treatments aren’t random. They’re designed to precisely target the area of your brain where underactive nerves cause problems like depression.
Underperforming nerves don’t produce and release the right amount of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). As a result, you lack the neurotransmitters needed to regulate mood and stress.
As the magnetic pulses boost nerve activity, your brain chemicals become better balanced, and communication between the nerve networks improves. These changes reduce the symptoms caused by mental health disorders.
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What conditions improve with TMS?
Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta may recommend TMS to treat:
- Major depressive disorderTreatment-resistant depression
Bipolar depression
Anxiety
PTSD
An electroencephalogram (EEGs) records electrical activity in the brain, producing lines on a graph that show the different types of brain waves.
EEG studies show that people with mental health disorders have underactive neurons in specific brain areas. That’s how the team can use TMS to target the right area and improve your mental health.
What happens during a TMS session?
You don’t need to do anything to prepare for a TMS treatment. You only need to come to the office and relax in the comfortable treatment chair. Then your provider gently places the round device against your head and turns it on.
Your first TMS session lasts a little longer because your provider determines where to target your treatment and the magnetic dose you need. However, most sessions only take 30-40 minutes.
During your session, you hear clicking and experience a light tapping sensation on your head. If side effects appear, they’re usually mild and go away after a few sessions.
The most common side effect is a headache. You can usually avoid this problem by taking over-the-counter medication before your session.
Some people experience scalp discomfort, lightheadedness, or tingling or twitching in their face. Your provider can adjust the level of stimulation to prevent these side effects.
As soon as your session finishes, you can go back to your normal daily routine. You get the best results from a series of TMS treatments. For most patients, that means getting five sessions every week for 4-6 weeks.
To learn if you’re a good candidate for TMS, call Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta or book an appointment online today.
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