5 Ways TMS Can Help Treat OCD Symptoms

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is commonly treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. But if these treatments aren’t helping your symptoms, your provider may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a noninvasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain.

Although researchers believe that OCD can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, a communication breakdown between different parts of your brain responsible for decision-making and emotion regulation may also play a role. At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, we offer TMS therapy for patients with treatment-resistant OCD and other mental health disorders.

Let’s review how TMS works and explore some of the ways it can help you manage your OCD symptoms.

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation for OCD

TMS therapy is FDA approved to treat patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as those with OCD. However, the biggest difference between these two treatments is the part of the brain that is stimulated with this technique. For depression, TMS typically focuses on the brain’s left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. For OCD treatment, TMS modulates activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the part of the brain commonly associated with OCD.

Your first appointment involves brain mapping. This process helps your provider determine exactly where to stimulate your brain and what levels of magnetic dosage to use. During this session, you’ll be comfortably seated with a magnetic coil near your scalp as your provider delivers a few gentle test pulses.

A typical schedule involves daily sessions, five days per week, over the course of six weeks, followed by a taper dose. Each session lasts about 20 minutes, and a TMS technician will ensure your comfort during the daily treatments, while the providers will assess the response of the treatment during various time points.

5 ways TMS therapy helps patients with OCD

The goal of TMS is to reduce your OCD symptoms and help you gain better control over your life. Research shows that 45% to 55% of patients with OCD experienced fewer symptoms after treatment.

Here are some of the ways TMS therapy may help people with OCD:

1. TMS helps calm specific parts of your brain.

Your brain is made up of complex neuronal networks. TMS uses magnetic pulses to help regulate the neuronal activity in your brain linked to OCD. As a result, many patients can better manage those intrusive thought patterns (obsessions) that lead to compulsive behaviors.

2. TMS can be used as an alternative to OCD medication.

Many people find that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help them manage their condition, but this isn’t always the case. TMS may be recommended as an alternative for severe, treatment-resistant OCD.

3. TMS can also be combined with other OCD treatments.

Many providers recommend a combination of treatments for people with OCD, such as psychotherapy and medication. TMS can be safely used alongside these other treatments as part of a well-balanced mental health care plan.

4. TMS for OCD typically yields minimal side effects.

SSRI dosages are typically higher for people with OCD than those with depression and anxiety disorders, which can increase the risk of experiencing unpleasant side effects without proper medication management, such as:

Weight gain
Sexual dysfunction
GI issues
Serotonin syndrome (a rare condition)

TMS therapy focuses on the brain, so it doesn’t directly affect other organs or systems in your body. Although you may experience mild discomfort during your sessions, it’s usually minimal and doesn’t last very long. For example, the mild and rare side effects of TMS can include:

Scalp discomfort
Mild headaches
Light facial tingling or twitching during treatment
Occasional fatigue

5. TMS therapy may be a more convenient option.

TMS is performed over a series of sessions. This might sound like a lot at first glance. However, these sessions can be personalized to reduce discomfort and offer a more convenient option compared to the trial and error some people go through with their OCD medications.

Explore TMS therapy for OCD at Psychiatry Treatment Centers

Let us help you gain better control over your OCD symptoms. PTC Med treats a wide range of mental health conditions, and we can explore whether TMS therapy is an option for you. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your symptoms, your medical history and your experience with OCD treatments. Using this information, we can figure out if TMS therapy is a good fit.

Our team takes a compassionate, evidence-based approach to care, ensuring that each patient has a treatment plan that aligns with their unique needs and goals. Along with TMS therapy, we also offer psychotherapy, medication management and other services. TMS is available in the following locations:

Reach out to our team by phone today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. You can also book your initial appointment online now.