PRESS RELEASES
TMS Therapy-New Treatment for Depression
WHEN ANTIDEPRESSANTS DON'T WORK: BEVERLY HOSPTIAL OFFERS
INNOVATIVE NEW TREATMENT FOR MAJOR DEPRESSION
First on the North Shore to Offer Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation (TMS) Therapy
Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications
in the U.S. yet studies show that less than 40 percent of people
with major depression achieve remission with a medication trial.
Beverly Hospital now offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
an innovative, non-medication, non-invasive treatment for patients
with major depression, specifically for patients who do not achieve
symptom relief from antidepressants or who have experienced
significant side effects from the medications. Beverly Hospital's
new Center for TMS Therapy is located at Beverly Hospital at
Danvers and is the only health provider on the North Shore to offer
this innovative breakthrough in depression treatment.
"Depression is a medical condition affecting one in ten adults.
It can take a tremendous toll on the individual, their families and
overall quality of life. Yet for many, antidepressants aren't well
tolerated or don't achieve adequate benefit," said Barry Ginsberg,
M.D., chief and administrative director, department of psychiatry,
Beverly Hospital. "TMS therapy has been shown to produce
significant, and in some cases life changing benefits for patients
with major depression."
In Essex County, it is estimated that more than 30,000 adults
between the ages of 18 and 65 suffer from major depression
disorder. Of those who seek treatment, nearly 50 percent will not
achieve adequate relief from medication and/or will be intolerant
to medication side-effects.
"TMS Therapy is a significant breakthrough for these patients,"
says Ginsberg. "It provides a reason to hope that relief from major
depression can be achieved and sustained."
TMS was approved by the FDA in 2008 as a safe and effective
treatment for major depression in adults. It works by delivering
focused MRI-strength magnetic pulses to stimulate the left
prefrontal cortex of the brain, which increases activity in the
areas believed to control mood. The patient is awake during the
treatment. No sedation or anesthesia is required. The patient
simply relaxes in a reclined chair and a small curved device
delivering the magnetic pulses rests just above the patient's head.
TMS therapy usually involves a 37 minute session, five days a week
over a period of four to six weeks. The frequency of treatment
makes local access even more vital.
Studies on the effectiveness of TMS in adult patients suffering
from major depression report that fifty percent of patients
improved significantly with the help of TMS and a third of patients
were completely symptom-free after six weeks of treatment.
Despite widespread education around depression, (national
depression screening day Oct. 6) there is a perceived stigma
associated with depression and/or taking medication for it. A
recent study published in the Annals of Family Medicine reports
that concerns about being prescribed antidepressants and/or being
referred to a psychiatrist or counselor are some of the major
reasons patients have for not talking with their primary care
physician about their depression symptoms.
Ginsberg encourages anyone who feels they have symptoms of
depression to talk with their doctor and to take antidepressants if
prescribed.
Patients who are interested in exploring TMS therapy first have
a consultation with one of the TMS therapy psychiatrists to
determine if they are appropriate candidates for TMS therapy. For
patients who continue to suffer from depression symptoms despite
being on one or more antidepressants "it is certainly worth at
least the call," says Ginsberg.
Patients interested in learning more about TMS should consult their
physician or can call directly for information. For more
information, call 978-304-8671.or click here for our TMS
page.
Beverly Hospital
Beverly Hospital is a full service, community hospital providing
leading-edge, patient-centered care to North Shore and Cape Ann
residents. Services include primary care, cardiovascular care,
surgery, orthopedics, emergency care, maternity, pediatrics, as
well as many other specialties. The hospital boasts a medical staff
of more than 550 physicians and its primary service area includes
16 communities. Beverly Hospital is a member of Northeast Health
System. In March 2011, Beverly Hospital was named to Thomson
Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® in the U.S. This is the sixth time
Beverly Hospital has been named to the 100 Top
Hospitals®.