TMS For PTSD

Is TMS For PTSD an Effective Form of Treatment?

TMS for PTSD can serve as an effective treatment when other methods of healing have failed. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that often develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. An individual with PTSD experiences intense thoughts and feelings about the trauma long after it’s passed.

Recent research indicates that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a form of TMS treatment for PTSD that can greatly improve symptoms, which are divided into four categories, including:

• Intrusion. This includes experiencing intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks of the trauma.
• Avoidance. You may try to avoid people, places or situations that remind you of the traumatic event. You may also try to avoid thinking about it or talking about it.
• Changes in thinking and mood. You may feel detached from others and have ongoing negative emotions and distorted memories of the event.
• Reactivity. You may be easily startled, have difficulty sleeping or have angry outbursts.

In New York City and New Jersey, look no further than Neuro Injury Specialists for expert TMS treatment for PTSD. Doctors Mark Cohen, Dmitriy Dvoskin, Anthonette Sparman and Leon Reyfman have extensive experience with TMS therapy for PTSD, along with experience diagnosing and treating other neurological disorders, such as:

• Nerve pain
• Headaches
• Traumatic brain injury

What Signs of PTSD Does TMS Target?

It’s natural to feel emotional or have difficulty coping for a period of time after experiencing a trauma. But without appropriate treatment, nearly 10 percent of people who experience a trauma develop PTSD, a condition in which over months or years the symptoms get worse rather than better.

Various types of TMS are designed to treat different kinds of reactions to traumas, such as:

• Military combat
• Physical or verbal abuse
• Sudden death of a loved one
• Natural disaster
• Sudden illness

Those who experience trauma over a long period of time such as child abuse, war or domestic violence may develop a condition called complex CPTSD. Complex PTSD can be difficult to treat, which is why TMS for complex PTSD is so beneficial to relieve the severe symptoms.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of PTSD?

Doctors aren’t sure why some people develop PTSD months or years after a trauma while others don’t. It appears the risk of developing PTSD is triggered by a combination of factors such as:

• The severity of trauma you’ve experienced
• Brain chemicals and the way your brain responds to stress
• Family history of depression and anxiety
• Lack of a good support system of family and friends
• Being physically injured in the trauma
• Being exposed to trauma during childhood

Symptoms of PTSD usually start within three months of a trauma, but it can be months or years longer. People with this disorder can experience fight or flight reactions even when they’re not in danger. Symptoms of PTSD can greatly interfere with daily life.

How Does TMS Therapy for PTSD Work?

TMS for PTSD involves using magnets to stimulate the parts of the brain that regulate mood and impulse control and to influence the brain’s electrical activity. It’s an outpatient procedure that’s non-invasive and doesn’t require sedation of any kind. TMS can be delivered at different frequencies and speeds to trigger different responses in the brain.

Things to expect from TMS include:

• Being instructed to remove metallic jewelry and eyeglasses with metal frames
• Reclining in a chair and wearing earplugs to protect your ears from loud sounds made by the machine
• Having the magnet positioned against your head
• Feeling and hearing clicking and pulsing noises
• Staying in place while treatment lasts for about 30 minutes

TMS treatment is usually done five days a week for several weeks. This form of treatment was first developed in 1985 and has been approved by the FDA to treat conditions such as depression, OCD and migraines. If you experience any side effects from the procedure, they’re usually minor and may include a slight headache, light-headedness or tingling in the face and scalp. Any side effects that you experience should pass quickly.

How Does TMS for PTSD Compare to Other Treatments?

The most often used form of treatment for PTSD is cognitive behavior therapy or exposure therapy. These remedies are sometimes combined with medication, such as anti-anxiety drugs.

The benefits of TMS for PTSD as an alternate form of treatment include:

• It’s noninvasive and there’s no down time.
• It can be used with other treatments.
• It’s safe with few side effects.

TMS has proven to be effective in restoring brain chemistry balance in people who struggle with depression. There’s growing evidence that this treatment method provides an overall therapeutic effect in people with PTSD. Approximately seven out of 10 people with PTSD show symptom improvement after treatment.

PTSD is unlikely to resolve on its own, and untreated PTSD can severely reduce your quality of life as you struggle with symptoms of this disorder. In NYC and NJ, contact Neuro Injury Specialists to find out if you’re a good candidate for TMS for PTSD.