Here's How TMS Is Helping Treat Depressive Disorders

Blackhawk TMS Depression & Anxiety Center clinical director William J. Shryer and his practice became involved with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of depression and addiction and OCD due to Shryer's interest in non-medication approaches that utilize the latest information in clinical neuroscience. This exciting field is about to turn upside down how we have been doing things for so long. As Albert Einstein so aptly put it, “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is the hallmark of insanity.”

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuronavigation allow us to see what areas of the brain are not working properly and gives us the information on how to stimulate the area of concern. This approach has more than twice the likelihood of success than medications ever did. The only reason the general public have not heard more about this is the medical community gets their information primarily from the drug companies that have a vested interest in not losing their stranglehold on selling medications (market share).

TMS was cleared by the FDA in 2008 and far earlier in Europe. We began using TMS in 2013 and find it the most productive intervention we have ever utilized. TMS is simply focusing the power of an MRI(magnetic pulses) in certain brain areas and causing neurons to fire that haven’t been working properly causing depression, OCD, anxiety etc. TMS essentially reboots the brain to function properly and efficiently. TMS is even used for cognitive enhancement, in autism and Parkinson’s disease. TMS does not induce electricity into the brain and is not ECT, it is magnetic pulses that go harmlessly into the brain causing neurons to fire and release neurotransmitters, precisely what medications try to do and often fail at doing.

For those curious about psychological treatment, the old, “How does that make you feel?” approach is being replaced by real science and competent interventions. For the treatment of depression, TMS is a no-brainer. You can take medications that only work 27.6% of the time or do something with far better odds of success. If you ask a psychiatrist or psychologist about TMS and they say anything negative about it you can bet they got this from the pharmaceutical industry. Now while we do have patients start often on medications the goal is always to get them off of them due to side effects such as weight gain, feeling dull and sexual side effects. TMS has none of these side effects.

Our proudest moments with our patients completing TMS is to hear comments like, “you have given me my life back," or, "I have color now back in my life from living nothing but gray and dark hues.”

Common misperceptions about depression is that it is an issue of will, or just pull up your bootstraps. Depression is a real genetic, neurobiological dysfunction that runs in families and is worsened by life’s events.

The future of TMS is unlimited in so many areas and it will challenge and replace the old ways of doing things. We are in the period of knowledge expansion the likes we have not seen before. We now double what we know every year and soon it will be down to monthly or hourly. TMS is part of that knowledge expansion.

If you or anyone you know has bipolar depression or major depressive disorder that has not responded to medications have them contact us at 925-648-2650. We will take the time to answer your questions and provide you with real solid information.

Shryer earned his BA degree in Sociology at California State University in Hayward and his MSW from the University of California at Berkeley, specializing in children and families. In private practice since 1981, Shryer is a specialist in autistic spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety and addiction. Obsessive compulsive disorder in children, adults and their families is yet another specialty of this practice.

Shryer has lectured frequently to college classes and professionals in the areas of ADD and autistic spectrum disorders and their implications in the educational setting. Mr. Shryer manages two behavioral clinics with a staff of MD's, Counselors, Clinical Psychologists, and Special Education teachers. He has been the moderator on CCTV, (Contra Costa Television) for both "Mental Health Perspectives" and "With the Family in Mind" which discussed topics such as Asperger's disorder, autism, bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder in children and adults. He writes frequently for local newspapers on subjects having to do with education, autistic spectrum disorders and the failure to launch of young men on the spectrum.

Learn more about Blackhawk TMS Depression & Anxiety Center

You can contact Dr. Shryer by email.

Image Credit: Blackhawk TMS Depression & Anxiety Center