NeuroStar uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to target key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression. It is not ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).
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While the exact cause of depression is not known, the leading scientific theory is that it is caused by an imbalance of the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells.
What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?
During a NeuroStar treatment session, a magnet similar in strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is used to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These magnetic pulses may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.
Source: Mark George, M.D. Biological Psychiatry Branch Division of Intramural Research Programs, NIMH 1993.
Treatment with NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is easy:
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Therapy sessions are conducted in your NeuroStar doctor’s office
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You can return to normal activities right away
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You are awake during treatment
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There are no negative effects on memory or sleep
The most common side effect encountered with NeuroStar TMS is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site.
This discomfort is temporary and usually stops occurring within the first week of treatments.
With more than three million treatments delivered, this novel treatment approach to achieving remission is bringing new hope to people every day.
Pictured above: A patient receiving TMS treatment.