South Bay TMS Therapy Center's Open House, Saturday June 10th

New Depression Treatment in Town

South Bay TMS Therapy Center is opening up a brand new center in Manhattan Beach! The center, headed by Dr. Martha Koo, has been a leading depression treatment resource in the South Bay, and is now expanding.

They will be hosting an open house on June 10th, from 10AM to 12PM, and will be serving coffee and pastries while offering a tour of the facility for other professionals in the area. If you currently operate in the mental health, counseling or behavioral health space, don't hesitate to come check out the facility!

What is TMS though?

Depression like most mental illness is believed to be caused by an improper balance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. The anti-depressant drugs prescribed today are designed to change the balance of those chemicals. In the 1930’s with the invention of electric convulsive therapy it was discovered that by running electricity through the brain, a small seizure could be induced which would cause a change in the way these neurotransmitters were produced. This discovery would eventually lead to the invention of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in 1984. This was because scientists were looking for a safer, less painful, and more accurate way of delivering electrical current to parts of the brain. TMS uses an electromagnetic induction coil to generate a rapidly changing magnetic field within the brain.

For treatment of depression they focus this magnetic field most frequently on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which is an area of the brain believed to help regulate mood. These magnetic pulses cause pulses of electrical current in the brain which stimulates the nerve cells. This stimulation of the nerves is intended to encourage a change in production of neurotransmitters that will improve mood. The average TMS treatment sessions lasts for 30-45 minutes and does not require surgery or any medications to be performed. The course of treatment usually is conducted as 5 sessions a week for 4-6 weeks. The treatment does not have any of the permanent side effects that are associated with the continued use of anti-depressant drugs. However the short term risks for TMS include mild localized pain of the scalp, temporary cognitive changes, temporary hearing loss, and a slightly increased chance of seizures.

If you would like to learn more, check out South Bay TMS Therapy Center online at https://southbaytms.com

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