SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Achieve TMS/TMS Center of Alaska, the nation's largest and most experienced provider of deep TMS (transcranial magnetic simulation) for the treatment of depression is now offering TMS treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder at centers in California, Oregon and Alaska. This treatment option was approved by the FDA in August 2018. OCD impacts 2.3% of the population and commonly co-occurs with mood disorders, anxiety, tic disorders or schizophrenia.
According to Achieve TMS medical director and founder Dr. Manish Sheth, "TMS for OCD is a localized, non invasive treatment using magnetic pulses to modify neural pathways in the CSTC circuits (cortico-striatal-thalamo-coritcol) of the brain -- the area involved with obsessive, persistent and intrusive thoughts and/or compulsive or ritualized actions that cause distress or impairment." The introduction of TMS treatment for OCD is significant because the five medications currently approved for treatment of this condition have had limited impact on patient response and remission rates.
Deep TMS treatment for OCD involves magnetic pulses administered to the affected areas of the brain daily via 20 minute treatments, five days per week for about six weeks. There are no systemic side effects, and patients are able to safely drive to school or work immediately afterward.
Patients are fitted with a specially-built helmet, containing a patented H7-coil that is mapped to each patient's CSTC coordinates on either side of the head. The CSTC circuits are responsible for attention allocation, impulse inhibition and motor activity. Magnetic pulses reaching up to 3.0 cm into the cerebral cortex gently stimulate the brain circuits impacted by OCD, combating hypersensitivity in these structures.
The effect of TMS on OCD is measured during treatment by assessing patient scores on the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Based on clinical data, 38% of all patients using TMS for OCD treatment will see a 30% decrease in the YBOCS score after 6 weeks (normally a drop of 6-7 points). Roughly 55% of patients will see a partial decrease (4-5 points) after 6 weeks. The decrease in symptoms is normally gradual and not apparent until roughly 3 weeks into treatment. TMS is most effective as an adjunctive treatment for OCD to support and enhance the impact of therapy and/or medication.
For more information on TMS for the treatment of OCD please contact Achieve TMS at 866-575-7219 or visit http://www.achievetms.com.
SOURCE Achieve TMS
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