Some people with mental health conditions feel disheartened by the lack of progress they experience with traditional treatment methods like medication and psychotherapy. You may be exploring alternative brain-stimulating treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) by your healthcare provider. But how do these treatments work, and which one is right for you?
At Learning to Achieve Wellness, we understand how overwhelming it can be for our patients to navigate their mental health treatment options. However, they do not have to experience their struggles alone. We help our patients understand their best and safest treatment options. Learn more about what ECT and TMS are, what are the benefits and disadvantages of each treatment, and why TMS may be right for your mental health needs.
Electroconvulsive therapy has been known to treat the symptoms of depression, schizophrenia, mania, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other mental health challenges. This treatment sends electrical currents through the brain—forcing the body to experience controlled seizures—which awakens depressed areas of the brain, improving its activity. With regular electroconvulsive therapy treatments, patients can improve their brain functioning independently.
This can be a viable treatment option for patients with extremely impaired function, such as patients with catatonia. Electroconvulsive therapy is administered under anesthesia in a clinical or hospital setting by licensed medical practitioners. As patients are completely sedated during the process, they cannot feel anything, nor can they potentially hurt themselves during the actual seizure. This treatment is also strongly regulated to ensure it is performed correctly.
The process for electroconvulsive therapy involves placing electrodes on the patient’s head and chest to deliver the electric current. The current is applied for approximately 10 minutes but there is a long post-recovery time: patients need to rest for at least an hour under supervision.
The duration and frequency of this therapy depends on the treatment provider and the nature of the treatment plan. For most patients, it is usually administered two to three times a week. Though electroconvulsive therapy can be beneficial for some patients, it also offers some drawbacks:
For patients who are ineligible, or are looking for alternative treatment options, TMS may be a viable alternative.
Transcranial magnetic therapy—commonly abbreviated as TMS—is relatively modern compared to electroconvulsive therapy, but it has been extensively developed and researched. NeuroStar, the #1 doctor-recommended TMS therapy for major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxious depression, is a promising treatment option for patients who are unable to find relief through standard treatments.
TMS therapy uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate strategic brain areas that control mood, emotion, and behavior. As the brain is repeatedly stimulated, it is expected to improve its activity. This differs from electroconvulsive therapy in that ECT forces the patient to undergo a seizure to make this happen, while TMS therapy uses electromagnetic waves. The technology behind TMS is very safe—and it is the same technology used in MRI scans.
NeuroStar is administered in 19-minute sessions, over a 36-day course, without anesthesia or sedation of any kind. Throughout the NeuroStar treatment, patients are awake, alert, and relaxed, and can resume their usual daily activities without any monitoring or post-treatment waiting period.
NeuroStar TMS therapy offers a variety of benefits for our patients. As a noninvasive treatment, it is an excellent alternative or supplement to medication, therapy, and other options. Unlike with electroconvulsive therapy, NeuroStar patients can immediately return to daily activities when the session is complete.
At the end of the day, both electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation have benefits to addressing your mental health condition. However, TMS therapy is safer, easier, and is less of a burden on your daily life.
Schedule your free consultation today with Learning to Achieve Wellness in Brandon, Brooksville, or New Port Richey to discover a path to a better, more fulfilling life.
