Introduction to TMS-The Problem of Depression

In 25 years of clinical practice I have not seen a treatment for medication resistant depression which is as safe and as effective as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It has now been one year since I decided to make a major career change and devote my practice primarily to TMS. I continue to see the same excellent results that prompted me to make that career change and in this next series of posts, I will focus on TMS.

The Problem of Depression

Depression is a major public health problem. In the United States, almost 20 million people have some form of depression. Only about half will ever be treated and of those, only about half will make a full recovery. Even with treatment, depression can still mean a lifetime of suffering.

But the full impact of depression is even greater than most people realize. According to the World Health Organization, in 2004 depression was already the world’s third leading cause of disability and by the year 2030, it’s expected to be the leading cause. In this country, depression is already the leading cause of disability for people between the ages of 15 and 55. Most of them are not dealing with the acute symptoms of an acute episode but instead are struggling with the chronic and persistent symptoms of treatment resistant depression. In October 2008, the FDA approved the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation specifically for treatment resistant depression.