As a southern California TMS center, our team recognizes how beneficial TMS therapy can be. TMS and its various protocols have evolved over the years. When traditional methods fail, the FDA has now approved BrainsWay dTMS for treating multiple conditions, including OCD.
OCD TMS Pasadena
TMS is typically associated with severe depression, but recent studies show that it can be invaluable for OCD, making it more than a Pasadena depression treatment. Before explaining how it works, let’s explore OCD.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that affects people from varying backgrounds and age groups. Most of us experience intrusive thoughts or ideas. For people with OCD, however, obsessive thoughts become highly invasive and beyond the individual’s control. Examples include:
- Fear of contamination
- Fear of harming oneself or others
- Fear of being responsible for a terrifying event
- Perfectionism or a fear of making mistakes
Meanwhile, compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that help to counteract obsessions, which can result in rituals meant to prevent anything negative from occurring. These coping mechanisms are not healthy and can eat away at valuable time. While it is normal to have routines, those with OCD would prefer to avoid their compulsive behaviors. A few examples are:
- Excessive bathing, handwashing, or cleaning
- Checking that they did not make mistakes
- Repeating actions or movements
- Doing things multiple times to reach a specific number
- Mentally reviewing events to avoid negative consequences
- Counting during tasks
- Avoiding triggers
How OCD TMS Pasadena Works
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) goes beyond traditional rTMS. BrainsWay dTMS has an H7 coil that can reach deeper and better target specific areas of the brain, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex. These areas of the brain are linked with OCD behavior. Additionally, TMS for OCD typically uses high-frequency stimulation. Some practitioners may expose patients to their triggers before beginning the treatment. People who undergo dTMS for their OCD have shown remarkable results. Roughly half have reduced symptoms a month after treatment.
What to Expect
TMS is a noninvasive treatment that has very few side effects. The sessions are short and do not require anesthetic, which means that you are free to carry on with minimal interruption to your day.
A Southern California TMS Center
Whether you are looking for Pasadena depression treatment, help with OCD, or suffer from treatment-resistant depression or anxious depression, the FDA has cleared BrainsWay to help with your condition. While TMS is an excellent interventional treatment, your provider will determine if it is the best choice for you. Remember that TMS may not be the first course of treatment offered. It all depends on your condition.
At Pasadena Neuropsychiatry, we take great care to ensure that you have the best possible treatment available. This includes collaborating with you and your primary care physician. Additionally, we run all necessary labs and EKGs before embarking on interventional therapies.
If you have any questions about TMS or any of our other services, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help empower you on your mental health journey.