If you are looking for an alternative treatment for depression, you may have learned about brain-stimulating treatments. These work to improve your brain activity and lessen your depression symptoms by physically stimulating your brain. Two of the most common examples of these treatments are electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). But what are ECT and TMS, how do they work, and which is right for you?
At Cedar Park TMS, we want to educate our patients on their treatment options so that they can make the best and most informed treatment decisions. In this article, we’ll discuss TMS therapy vs. ECT, their benefits and drawbacks, and why each of these treatments may be right for you.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the oldest mental health treatments in practice. It is FDA-cleared and safe to treat depression, psychosis, mania, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and many other mental health conditions.
ECT stimulates your brain with small electrical currents, inducing controlled seizures that activate areas associated with depression. These treatment sessions help to boost your brain function over time, allowing it to improve on its own and alleviating your mental health symptoms. With regular treatments, you may find your mood and overall well-being are significantly enhanced.
ECT is usually administered two to three times a week for a few months. It can only be performed by a licensed medical practitioner in a clinical or hospital setting. During ECT treatment, you will be given anesthesia to ensure you are unconscious and safe. Electrodes will be placed on your head and chest to deliver the electric current, and each session will last around ten minutes. Afterward, you will typically rest for an hour under monitoring to ensure that there are no adverse side effects.
One of the key advantages of ECT is that it is very safe, even for pregnant women in all trimesters. The procedure is also highly regulated. However, ECT has some drawbacks vs. TMS, such as potential side effects like temporary memory loss. The frequency of treatments and the one-hour monitoring time can also be an accessibility barrier to patients with busy schedules.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a more modern treatment than ECT. Despite being relatively new, TMS has undergone extensive research and development and is a promising treatment for conditions like major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxious depression.
TMS therapy targets specific areas of the brain that control mood, emotion, and behavior. Throughout your treatment, your brain is repeatedly stimulated, gradually allowing it to normalize its activity independently without the need for induced seizures. You can experience the mental health benefits without some of the more intense side effects associated with other treatments.
Our TMS therapy is administered through convenient, rapid sessions. During these sessions, you will be awake, alert, and comfortable as gentle electromagnetic waves stimulate your brain neurons. Once your session ends, you can return to your daily activities, including driving yourself to and from treatments. While some patients see improvements as soon as two to three weeks, others may find their symptoms alleviated after the full program.
One drawback of TMS is that it may not be suitable for everyone, including children under 15 and those with certain implants, such as cochlear devices.
Both ECT and TMS can provide unique benefits, but your choice depends on your needs and circumstances. When you consult with our compassionate mental health professionals, you will gain valuable insights that empower you to make informed decisions about your care.
At Cedar Park TMS, we have offered TMS since it became available in 2018. We pride ourselves on being a local, hometown TMS provider; think of us as the friendly neighborhood burger restaurant, not a fast-food chain. We live and work here and are deeply invested in our community and your well-being.
Schedule your consultation today and learn more about the benefits of TMS therapy vs. ECT. You deserve to feel better, and help is just a conversation away with our caring team at Cedar Park TMS.
