Depression and anxiety can feel very heavy for teens. This mental health condition can affect a teen's performance in school, their relationship with friends, and family time. While some are prescribed pills and medication to feel better, there is another way to treat depression without using medicine. It's a process called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Introduced in 1985 and approved for use in the United States in 2008, TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to treat various neurological and psychiatric conditions, particularly depression. It can also be used to treat anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines, and smoking cessation.
How Does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Work?
TMS uses a small device that sends magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain. Typically, this brain region involves the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in mood regulation. These pulses help wake up areas of the brain that aren't working as well as they should.
The treatment is safe and does not hurt. Patients simply sit in a chair while the machine works. Each session takes about 20 to 40 minutes, and people often feel better after a few weeks of regular sessions. Because it's non-invasive, there are no big risks, which makes it easier for teens.
Why TMS Could be Better for Teens Than Anti-Depression Pills?
TMS has shown significant promise in treating depression, particularly in cases where antidepressant pills were shown to be ineffective. Studies have shown that between 50% to 60% of patients treated with TMS experienced a "clinically meaningful response" from the process. Among those, one-third of patients said their symptoms went away completely.
It is important to acknowledge that the cure for depression is not permanent. Like most other treatments, there is still a high recurrence rate. That said, most TMS patients feel better for months after the end of their treatment.
For perspective, anti-depressive pills are often associated with a potential increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly among patients in the first few weeks of treatment or those with recent dosage changes. In fact, the FDA is requiring all antidepressants to carry a "black box" warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking in children, adolescents, and young adults under 25.
Teens who abruptly stop the intake of anti-depressive medication can also suffer withdrawal-like symptoms, including dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.
