TMS Updates May 2015

Peter ForsterTreatments of Depression

The editors of Bipolar News reported on some interesting presentations related to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at the Biological Psychiatry meetings this past May. TMS for geriatric depression – “Researcher Daniel Blumberger reported that he has found repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to be effective for depression in late life. Blumberger noted thatit may be necessary to use higher intensity …

TMS Media – The Doctors

Peter ForsterTreatments of Depression

TMS Media – “The Doctors” December 3 I am excited to share with you that on December 3rd “The Doctors” featured a segment on TMS. Todd Hutton, MD,  Medical Director, Southern California TMS Center, was invited to appear with a patient who is doing great 18 months post TMS treatment. I hope you can watch and that this contributes to further awareness …

TMS Effectiveness

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Treatments of Depression

TMS effectiveness is something I have spent a fair amount of time researching. Last year I gave two Grand Rounds presentations on this topic at the University of California, San Francisco and at the California Pacific Medical Center. But despite the compelling evidence that, if you have failed two (or maybe three) antidepressant trials for the treatment of your depression, your …

TMS Mechanism of Action – Changes in Brain Connectivity?

Peter ForsterBasic Science, Treatments of Depression

TMS’s mechanism of action has been unclear. Transcranial magnetic stimulation affects activity locally in the region of the brain that is stimulated, but does that explain how it works? Since it affects local activity in every patient, why does it not work for everyone? A new article in Biological Psychiatry suggests that it may be changes in brain connectivity that …

TMS Outcomes – Long Term Study

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Treatments of Depression

TMS outcomes have seemed favorable for patients with treatment resistant major depression, but what are the long term effects of TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)? TMS is a non-invasive technique for stimulating brain activity in parts of the brain that seem to be turned off in depression – the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. TMS uses magnets to stimulate the brain and the …

TMS Improves Memory

Peter ForsterPsychobiology, Treatments of Depression

TMS improves memory. According to a study published in the Aug. 29 issue of the journal Science, “electrically stimulating a portion of the brain that coordinates the way the mind works can enhance memory and improve learning.” The researchers used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to indirectly stimulate activity in the hippocampus, a key part of the brain involved in the storage …