Flagship Coil for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment - Medical / Health Care - Clinical Services
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or Deep TMS, has been shown to safely and effectively alleviate the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly those patients who have not achieved sufficient improvement from traditional OCD treatment options.
-
Most popular related searches
Details
The treatment utilizes a magnetic field emitted by BrainsWay’s patented H7-coil to directly reach broader and deeper brain regions than its predecessors, regulating the neural activity of brain structures associated with OCD – specifically the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex.
A peer-reviewed multicenter clinical study found Deep TMS to be a highly effective OCD treatment, with more than one in three treatment-resistant OCD patients achieving “response”, greatly improving their quality of life.
As a non-invasive procedure, Deep TMS is a well-tolerated treatment that does not cause any adverse or long-lasting side effects. It does not require a significant recovery period, and the 18-min treatment can easily be integrated into each patient’s day-to-day schedule.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental disorder defined as a combination of anxiety-inducing thoughts and behavior. OCD can be time-consuming, create significant distress on the individual facing it and take a toll on family, friends, and colleagues.
The condition’s two main components are ruminative thoughts (“obsessions”) and the actions meant to soothe them (“compulsions”).
Obsessive Thoughts: OCD usually arises from distressing, repetitive thinking. Common categories that fuel OCD-related anxiety include:
- Cleanliness and fear of contamination.
- Worrying about disastrous events.
- Focusing on organizing, counting, symmetry, or “just right” thinking.
- Taboo thoughts or mental rituals.
Compulsive Behavior: When battling OCD, many patients develop compulsive, ritualistic behavior as a way to suppress their stressful thought content – for example, excessive hand washing.
While these compulsive behaviors are meant to help reduce anxiety, in time they are incorporated into the individual’s obsessive OCD patterns, until they begin inducing stress themselves. This creates a cycle of thoughts and actions that exhaust the individual experiencing them, causing them a great deal of despair.
OCD Demographics: According to the DSM V, OCD occurs in 1.2% of the population. While females are found to be affected at a slightly higher rate than males, males are more likely to develop OCD during childhood.
Possible Causes for OCD: OCD has been found to be associated with a number of risk factors, such as genetics, environmental factors, temperament and critical life events. Those with OCD also often battle additional mental health conditions, with three in four having a history of anxiety disorders, and nearly one in two battling depression.
Deep TMS: The only non-invasive device FDA-cleared to treat OCD, Deep TMS utilizes magnetic fields to safely regulate the neural activity of brain structures found to be related to OCD. A multicenter study published in 2019 by the American Journal of Psychiatry confirmed the treatment’s efficacy, concluding that focusing brain stimulation on “the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex significantly improved OCD symptoms.” Deep TMS is also safe to combine with other forms of therapy, and does not cause any adverse or long-lasting side effects. It is non-invasive and can be easily incorporated into the patient’s daily schedule.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT is a form of psychotherapy commonly used to treat OCD. The treatment focuses on the thoughts, feelings, behavior and physical reactions linked to OCD, while helping patients become less anxious in reaction to them. One subtype, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), assists patients in developing openness and flexibility when reacting to obsessive thoughts, while committing to behavioral change.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy: ERP has also been shown to be a form of psychotherapy effective in treating OCD. ERP gradually exposes the patient to the source of their anxiety, accompanied by the support of a mental health professional, who encourages them to refrain from acting on their compulsions.
Psychopharmacology: Medication for OCD is also considered among the treatment options found helpful in reducing OCD symptoms. Several antidepressants have been FDA-approved to treat OCD, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and one tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). While many patients find them to be helpful, these medications can also induce possible side effects, such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
Lifestyle Changes to Protect Against OCD: Healthy eating, regular exercise and “sleep hygiene” (eliminating distractions when going to bed) are seen as a “winning triad” that greatly affects our ability to ward off OCD symptoms. Additional protective factors include keeping up with your regularly scheduled activities and incorporating stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and massage therapy into your life.