Depression affects one in 10 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and some people do not see adequate results from antidepressant medications. Others stop treatment due to intolerable or unwanted side effects such as weight gain, headaches or sexual issues. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS) can help those that are not getting better with traditional treatments.

TMS is a non-medication treatment for depression. This non-invasive treatment uses a powerful, palm-sized magnetic coil to stimulate the brain. The coil focuses short, rapid magnetic pulses into the prefrontal cortex area of the brain believed to affect mood. The technique was approved to treat depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 and was added to the Best Practices Treatment Guidelines for Depression in 2010 by the American Psychological Association. TMS has been proven safe with more than 150,000 treatments in more than 3,000 patients. Studies show one in two patients see significant improvement, and one in three are depression-free after six weeks of TMS.

TMS sessions are performed daily in the office for four to six weeks, totaling 30 treatments. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes. The patient is awake and alert during the treatment and may return to normal activities after each session. The only side effects recorded are headache or scalp sensitivity at the treatment site, which can be treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Also, TMS causes no sedation or memory loss.

For more information, call Dr. Stephen Streitfeld at 520-296-7766 or visit MindSourceCentre.com. A free TMS Education Day for patients will take place at 6 p.m., Mar. 19, at 7345 E. Tanque Verde Rd.