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Getting the Best Treatment for OCD
OCD is a severe mental health disorder. If left untreated, OCD can impair day-to-day functionality and adversely affect the quality of your life. This mental illness impacts all aspects of an individual’s work, social, and private life. Given the severity of OCD, treatment has become a top priority. Fortunately, OCD treatment centers are now available, focusing on TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) as one of the preferred treatment options.
Today, we will introduce readers at BIID to TMS and how it is used to control neural activity in the brain. Then our discussion will move to Deep TMS™ as the preferred option for treating OCD, given its FDA-cleared status as a viable means of treatment for OCD. This is due to the fact that it is capable of targeting deeper regions of the brain and is backed by a robust body of clinical research. Given the high levels of success patients enjoy over time, Deep TMS™ is fast gaining in popularity at treatment centers across the United States.
OCD: A Serious Mental Health Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive and unwanted thoughts, feelings, and images that are recurrent and persistent. The obsessions experienced by individuals with OCD can be highly distressing. To control or neutralize the obsessions, people with OCD often develop compulsions.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels compelled to perform to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. The compulsions are often excessive and unreasonable. They may interfere with an individual’s ability to function at work or school or to take care of basic self-care needs, such as eating or sleeping. In some cases, the compulsions may even be dangerous, such as when individuals with OCD engage in repetitive hand-washing that damages their skin.
Treating OCD: An Introduction to TMS
TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders. Traditional TMS is typically delivered using a figure-eight-shaped coil placed against the scalp near the forehead. The coil produces brief magnetic pulses that pass through the skull and stimulate nerve cells in the brain region involved in mood regulation and other cognitive functions.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that TMS was an effective treatment for OCD compared to a sham procedure. The study included 106 participants who received either active TMS or a sham procedure. The participants were assessed at baseline and then again two weeks and four weeks after treatment began. The researchers found that those who received active TMS had a more significant reduction in OCD symptoms than those who received the sham procedure.
Deep TMS™: The Preferred Treatment Option for OCD
Deep TMS™ is a form of transcranial magnetic stimulation that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells deep within the brain. Unlike Traditional TMS, which only stimulates nerve cells on the brain’s surface, Deep TMS™ can reach areas of the brain that are difficult to access with conventional methods. It uses a specialized helmet with an H-Coil formulated for effective treatment.
This makes Deep TMS™ an ideal treatment option for psychiatric conditions like OCD associated with abnormalities in deep regions of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex. In addition, Deep TMS™ has been cleared by the FDA for treating major depressive disorder, anxious depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and smoking addiction. Deep TMS™ has been shown to be safe and effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan in each of these indications.
Why Choose an OCD Treatment Center?
There are many reasons why you may wish to consider an OCD treatment center for your care. First and foremost, these facilities have a team of experts who specialize in treating this mental health disorder. This means they are up-to-date on the latest research and treatments available for OCD. In addition, treatment centers usually offer a more comprehensive approach to care than what is available from individual therapists or doctors’ offices.
This is because they have access to various specialists who can provide different types of care, such as talk therapy, medication management, and Deep TMS™ therapy. By working with a team of experts, you can ensure that you are getting the best possible care for your condition.
Finally, another benefit of choosing an OCD treatment center is that you will likely receive care from providers who have experience treating this mental health disorder using Deep TMS™ therapy specifically. Since BrainsWay’s Deep TMS™ was the first TMS treatment to be FDA-cleared, their trusted clinics are the most experienced in handling OCD TMS treatment courses.
Conclusion
OCD is a serious mental health disorder that can significantly impact your quality of life. Therefore, if you are struggling with OCD, it is important to seek treatment from a team of experts who can provide you with the best possible care.
Treatment centers offer a comprehensive approach to care that includes access to different specialists, such as therapists, psychiatrists, and Deep TMS™ providers. The FDA has cleared Deep TMS™ as a safe and effective treatment option for OCD. If you are considering Deep TMS™ therapy for your OCD, choose a provider who has experience treating this mental health disorder using this specific form of transcranial magnetic stimulation.
