In this UPMC Spotlight, we're taking a closer look at a therapy doctors are using to treat depression. The treatment uses magnets and it's called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS.
Check out the video on this page to see my conversation with Lauren Greer. She's a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and she explains the procedure and how they're using it to help patients.
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment (From UPMC.com)
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an outpatient procedure used in patients with hard-to-treat depression. This therapy creates changes in the way the brain cells (neurons) interact in specific parts, or circuits, of the brain that controls mood.
TMS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment-resistant depression in patients who fail to improve after treatment with two antidepressants.
In some patients, antidepressants fail because they do not relieve the symptoms of depression. Other patients may not be able to tolerate the side effects of antidepressants. Some are not able to take them because of other medications or conditions.
Learn more about TMS at UPMC.com
For more information or to schedule an appointment with the Center for Interventional Psychiatry, please call 412-246-5063 or follow the link for more information.
About UPMC Behavioral Health
For more than 70 years, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital has been a nationally recognized leader in mental health clinical care, research, and education. Our services include UPMC Western Behavioral Health, a network of nearly 60 community-based programs providing specialized mental health and addiction care throughout western Pennsylvania.