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TMS For Bipolar

TMS therapy for bipolar disorder is a completely non-invasive, safe and successful form of treatment for bipolar for many people. Technically called transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS treatment for bipolar depression is a specialty of the neurologists at Neuro Injury Specialists in NYC and New Jersey. When other forms of treatment don’t provide you with the relief you seek, call the doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists for a consultation to find out if TMS therapy for bipolar disorder is the solution you’ve been seeking.

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    Is TMS an Effective Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?

    Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive form of treatment that uses magnets to stimulate areas of your brain. This approach to treatment has been used for some time for major depressive disorders and for other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and migraines. Recent studies show that it’s also beneficial for some people as a treatment for bipolar depression.
    TMS therapy for bipolar disorder is carefully targeted to a specific area of your brain. For expert TMS treatment in the NYC and NJ areas, the experienced team of doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists have the knowledge and experience needed to provide effective individualized treatment for bipolar depression, headaches, nerve pain and other neurological conditions.

    What Is Bipolar Disorder?

    Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by dramatic mood swings and shifts in energy and behavior. Bipolar depression is characterized by feeling sad and hopeless, while emotional highs are known as mania.

    Symptoms of bipolar depression include:

    • Low mood
    • Lack of energy and motivation
    • Feelings of hopelessness
    • Concentration and memory problems
    • Appetite changes
    • Physical and mental sluggishness
    • Sleep problems

    Mania is the opposite extreme of low energy and mood. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania, nonetheless, both have symptoms that include:

    • Racing thoughts
    • Rapid speech
    • Reduced need for sleep
    • Elevated or euphoric mood
    • Restlessness
    • Impulsivity

    The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be so severe that they interfere with daily life including working and going to school. The cycles of bipolar disorder can last for days, weeks or months. If symptoms of mania and depression occur at the same time, it’s called a mixed episode.

    Who Gets Bipolar Disorder and Why?

    More than 5.7 million Americans are affected by bipolar disorder and doctors don’t know for sure why some people get this condition.

    Factors that increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder include:

    • Genetics. If one or more family members has bipolar disorder, you’re at an increased risk of developing this condition yourself.
    • Life stressors. Symptoms of bipolar disorder may start after a significant life event or trauma.
    • Substance abuse. Abusing drugs and alcohol can cause changes to the brain, and this also can be treated successfully with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

    Bipolar disorder affects both men and women and can affect people of all ages. For most people, symptoms become noticeable in the late teens or early 20s, but it sometimes affects children and people in their 40s or 50s.

    How Does TMS for Bipolar Depression Work?

    TMS therapy for bipolar is done by using magnetic pulses to stimulate specific parts of the brain. Magnetic pulses target cortical brain areas to modulate brain networks. Anesthesia isn’t required.

    Steps of the procedure include:

    • Sitting in a chair and wearing earplugs
    • Attaching a coil-like device near the hairline
    • Receiving magnetic bursts of energy that feel like tapping on your head
    • Moving the coil to different positions around your head as your doctor monitors your reactions

    The magnetic pulses stimulate nerves in the area of your brain that affects mood. A session lasts between 20 and 60 minutes. Initial treatment may be several times a week and may be tapered down to once a week. Each individual is different and your doctor explains how many sessions are needed in your case and how long they’re likely to take.

    How Does TMS Therapy for Bipolar Compare to Other Treatments?

    urrent treatment options for bipolar disorder can be effective, but don’t always work on all patients. Treatment options for bipolar depression include behavior modification and pharmacological interventions, such as:

    • Mood-stabilizing medications
    • Anti-psychotic medication
    • Antidepressants, usually in combination with other medications
    • Cognitive behavior therapy

    It’s sometimes difficult to find medications or combinations of medication that effectively manage symptoms of bipolar disorder. Another challenge is that some medications have side effects that you may find intolerable, leading you to stop taking the medications as prescribed. TMS treatment for bipolar depression can be effective in managing symptoms that haven’t been managed by other forms of treatment.

    Does TMS Have Side Effects?

    TMS is considered a safe and non-invasive procedure. Side effects of TMS are usually mild and are typically less severe than the side effects of medications used to treat this condition.

    Side effects that you may experience include:

    • Dizziness
    • Dull headache or discomfort during treatment
    • Anxiety
    • Insomnia

    In rare cases, TMS may cause seizures in people with bipolar disorder, and it shouldn’t be used on anyone who has a seizure disorder. There’s also some risk that TMS could trigger a manic episode, but this is also a risk when anti-depressants are prescribed to treat bipolar disorder.
    If you or a loved one has bipolar disorder and the condition is untreated, there can be major consequences such as an increased risk of suicide or serious problems caused by reckless and impulsive behavior. Contact the medical professionals at Neuro Injury Specialists to find out if you’re a good candidate to receive TMS for bipolar depression.