Can TMS Help with Anxiety?

Anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the United States, affecting more than 18% of the adult population every year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders are thought to result in part from disruption in the balance of activity in the emotional centers of the brain.

After hundreds of small studies conducted all over the world with very positive results, there is now more confidence that TMS can be an effective treatment for various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

There is still more to be known, and more consistency between the studies is needed to come to a consensus for an accepted protocol for anxiety, better defining treatment target location, number of pulses and number of treatments needed to achieve remission from anxiety symptoms.

The uplifting message for those who are struggling with debilitating anxiety is that there is a cutting-edge technology available to them.

TMS can offer an approach to treating their symptoms where traditional methods, including psychotropic medications, have failed them.

TMS can bring them hope that they are not out of treatment options, and that they can get relief and resume their lives anxiety-free.

(article by Lindsay Israel, MD taken from Healio.com)