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TMS For OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a tough condition to live with. Drugs and talk therapy may or may not help. Even if they help you manage your condition, it’s often beneficial to add another form of highly successful OCD treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS therapy for OCD is non-invasive and takes very little time. Expert OCD TMS doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists provide this state-of-the-art TMS treatment for OCD. Call today to book your appointment.

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    Does TMS Therapy for OCD Work?

    If you’re living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you may struggle with impulsive behaviors or intrusive thoughts. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a form of treatment that’s done by using magnets to stimulate specific parts of the brain. When you undergo TMS OCD treatment, symptoms can be better controlled, providing hope to those who haven’t found relief using traditional methods.

    OCD TMS is backed by research studies demonstrating its effectiveness in treating the mental health disorder. Treatments that affect the brain should only be done by highly knowledgeable and experienced specialists, which in New York City and New Jersey, you find at Neuro Injury Specialists.There you find a team of doctors skilled and experienced in the use of this ground-breaking treatment alternative.

    What Leads to the Need for TMS Treatment for OCD?

    Doctors don’t fully understand what causes OCD, but they do know that when certain pathways in the brain are stimulated, positive changes occur. It’s a complex disorder that appears to be caused by a combination of factors.

    Some of these factors include:

    • Genetics. It’s known that having other family members with OCD increases the risk of developing this condition. While there may be a genetic component related to OCD, a specific gene hasn’t yet been discovered.
    • Childhood trauma. Stressful life events such as abuse or neglect during childhood can contribute to the development of OCD. Transcranial magnetic stimulation also works to treat PTSD, another common effect of childhood trauma.
    • Brain changes. Physical changes to the frontal cortex and subcortical structures of the brain can be seen on imaging studies of patients with OCD.

    OCD can affect both children and adults. It tends to first appear between ages seven and 12 or during the late teen years to early adulthood but can appear at any time. And because it’s non-invasive, OCD TMS can safely be used for children and adolescents. It may be related to other disorders such as tic disorders, substance abuse, anxiety disorders and depression.

    What Symptoms Are Treated with TMS Therapy for OCD?

    OCD affects approximately one percent of Americans and can seriously interfere with the enjoyment of life. TMS offers hope to those who have been afflicted with symptoms, most notably those that create unwanted thoughts known as obsessions, which eventually must be acted on to release you from those thoughts.

    Symptoms of obsessions may include:

    • Fear of encountering germs, dirt or other contaminated substances
    • Unwanted sexual thoughts
    • Fear of acting on violent impulses
    • Feeling stressed when objects aren’t orderly
    • Fear of making a mistake

    Those who have OCD are distressed about the anxiety they experience over their obsessions, and they try to cope with compulsive acts and repetitive behaviors. People with OCD don’t get pleasure from compulsions, but compulsive behaviors give you short-term relief from anxiety.

    Examples of compulsions include:

    • Repeatedly checking locks, doors and switches
    • Excessive cleaning
    • Bathing or washing hands over and over
    • Arranging and rearranging items in a specific order
    • Counting items over and over, doing a task a certain number of times and avoiding certain numbers

    How Is TMS Therapy for OCD Done?

    Treatment for OCD doesn’t cure the disorder but aims to bring symptoms under control. OCD is usually treated with a combination of medications and cognitive behavior therapy, but when the traditional forms of treatment don’t control symptoms or you’re tired of the side effects of the drugs and the time spent in therapy, TMS treatment for OCD may be considered. TMS is non-invasive and non-surgical and doesn’t require anesthesia.

    Steps of TMS therapy for OCD include:

        Sitting in a chair and wearing earplugs
        Having a device containing a coil pressed to the outside of your head
        Feeling light pulses as the coil generates a magnetic field that passes through the scalp and hair into the brain

    Your doctor uses this magnetic field to target specific areas of the brain as the magnetic waves change brain activity. TMS treatment is usually done five days a week, for around four to six weeks. Treatment usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. It’s an outpatient treatment done in your doctor’s office. There’s no down time after treatment and you can return to your normal routine immediately.

    TMS treatment for OCD that’s done using specific devices, protocols and target areas has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This form of treatment is typically combined with exposures that trigger OCD symptoms just before the TMS therapy is done.

    Are There Side Effects from TMS For OCD?

    When you have OCD, TMS provides a promising option if you don’t get much symptom relief from medication and psychotherapy.

    Side effects are usually minor but may include:

    • Lightheadedness
    • Scalp discomfort
    • Headache

    If you have bipolar disorder, your doctor may target different areas of the brain to provide relief from both conditions, or tackle one issue at a time. Your doctor closely monitors you during the process, because your health always remains a priority. You’ll be advised to not undergo TMS if you have a seizure disorder or metal anywhere in your head or on your face such as aneurysm clips, stents in the brain or neck, bullet fragments or magnetic ink on facial tattoos as they’re affected by the magnets.

    If you or a loved one has OCD and is interested in being considered for TMS therapy in NYC or NJ, contact the experts at Neuro Injury Specialists. Their doctors are all specialists in brain injury diagnosis and treatment, and they can help you determine if TMS for OCD is a good option for you.