Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a medical device, uses magnetic coil to create magnetic field, which in turn creates electric pulses or currents delivered to brain through the skull in a non-invasive manner. The electric current is delivered in the form of a specific pattern to the brain. Once the pattern also called waveform reaches the brain, it is replicated within the brain. The replicated pattern can modulate brain functions and can be used to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Procedure in a TMS?

TMS therapy can only be conducted by a trained, skilled TMS technician or TMS physician. It is an outpatient procedure and does not require overnight stay even if it is done in a hospital.

The procedure is as follows:

Patient will be given earplugs to minimize the clicking sound of magnetic impulses. The procedure does not require anesthesia or sedative and the patient is awake throughout the treatment.

The treatment begins with the technician measuring the head of patient to determine the placement of the magnetic coil. In order to personalize settings on the TMS machines, technician will also take various other measurements.

After placing the coil in the frontal area of the brain, treatment begins.

Magnetic impulses are sent to the brain and clicking sound indicates the release of magnetic impulses. Patient may also feel a tapping or knocking sensation beneath the magnetic coil. Multiple magnetic impulses are delivered through out the procedure to create a specific pattern which can be replicated in the brain.

Each treatment lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The procedure needs to be repeated 5 days a week for about 4 to 6 weeks. The length of the treatment may vary according to patient responses and conditions.

Normal routine, such as driving a car and other routine activities, can be continued during and after the treatment.

Uses of TMS

TMS therapy is used for multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders.

TMS is use to treat major depressive disorder or depression. It helps patients who have not found relief from medication or psychotherapy treatments. TMS may help stimulating nerve cells and increasing activity in the prefrontal cortex area, which is responsible for depression symptoms like low energy level and appetite.
Again, patients who have not responded to medication and psychotherapy treatments can benefit from TMS, as it may help inhibit activity between the prefrontal cortex and striatum, resulting in reduced OCD symptoms.
In anxiety, there’s often increased nerve cell activity in the prefrontal cortex and TMS therapy, which targets the prefrontal cortex, may reduce the activity in this region thus reducing anxiety triggers in a patient.
TMS targets prefrontal cortex, thus helping in regulating stimuli of fear and worry or the flight-or-fight instinct, which is a major symptom in PTSD patients.
In a stroke, blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced, leading to death of brain cells and consequently long-term loss of muscle movement. TMS therapy, with its magnetic impulses, can alter motor cortex activity, which is responsible for voluntary muscle movements, and may improve dysphagia or problems with swallowing food.
TMS can target the temporoparietal cortex, which is generally over-active in schizophrenia cases, controlling the auditory hallucination experienced by 75% of schizophrenia patients.
TMS can normalize the connections between brain parts that are responsible for freezing of gait syndrome in Parkinson patients.
TMS can help alter neural connections involving memory and learning, which is in decline in Alzheimer cases.
TMS can help stimulate motor cortex and control neurotransmitters that may be responsible for chronic pain condition such as fibromyalgia.
MS which can target prefrontal cortex can help in reducing nicotine cravings. It may also promote release of dopamine or “happy hormone,” which reduces the craving for nicotine.
TMS helps with the motor cortex in people with MS, reducing spasticity or muscle tightness.

Different TMS Categories

There are two types of TMS. They are:

  • Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which uses more intense electric pulses, is used to treat patients with unipolar depression. In rTMS, short electromagnetic pulses are delivered through the left side of the patient’s scalp in a specific pattern. The repeated magnetic pulses create electric currents, which stimulate nerve cells in the targeted spots in the brain. There are a few side effects that are associated with this treatment like headache and nausea but there are no long-term impacts that have been noted.

  • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) uses specialized coils, called H coils, are designed to target different brain areas. The magnetic impulses are similar to those in MRI scans.

Why RHS?

RHS is a group of dedicated mental health specialists working in the Tri-cities and Bellevue area of Washington State. We are currently the only metal health organization in the tri-cities area to provide the advanced, FDA approved TMS therapy for various neurological and psychiatric disorders. In our quest to provide the excellent services to our patients, we have trained TMS technicians and physicians who use cutting edge technologies to provide precision diagnosis and treatment. Providing the most comprehensive neurodevelopment and psychological evaluation along with an integrated remediation/therapy program has been our goal since inception. We ensure 360o mental care for each of our patients.

Better Technology, Better Results!

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NEUROPSYCH PROGRAM (PSYCHIATRY)
1446 SPAULDING AVE, STE 303
RICHLAND, WA 99352

Brain Stim @ Reliance
1445 SPAULDING AVE, STE 402
RICHLAND, WA 99352

VARAD PROGRAM (PSYCHIATRY)

Our Bellevue location is currently seeing patients through Telehealth Services.

“If you’re currently experiencing a mental health crisis, suicidal feelings, and/or homicidal feelings, please contact 911 or your nearest Crisis Response Unit (Tri-Cities: 509-792-1747 & Bellevue: 206-461-3222).”

ADDRESS:
1446 SPAULDING AVE, STE 303
RICHLAND, WA 99352

PHONE:
(509) 420-5060

AFTER HOURS:
(509) 845-4515

FAX:
(509) 420-5059

HOURS:
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: Closed

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