An Alternative to Adding the Next Antidepressant to Relieve Clinical Depression

Data Presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting Shows Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation May Present an Alternative to Adding the Next Antidepressant to Relieve Clinical Depression

TORONTO, Canada - May 21, 2015 - (Newswire.com)

​​Results collected by the TMS Serenity Center, Sugar Land, Texas,  demonstrated that individuals achieving remission of their depression through Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation have about a 1 in 2 chance (48%) of reducing medications while 2 in 5 (40%) can maintain wellness with no medication changes. 

This data was presented to media and colleagues in poster session of the 168th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Kimberly Cress, Medical Director, presented Treatment of Unipolar, Non-Psychotic Major Depressive Disorder with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Examining TMS Effects on Pharmacotherapy Changes, Acute and Long-Term Outcomes from a Retrospective Evaluation during Routine Clinical Practice on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.  The data included a retrospective analysis of 115 patients with a primary diagnosis of unipolar Major Depressive Disorder. The overall results showed that patients receiving TMS therapy at the TMS Serenity Center have significant improvement 76.0% of the time with 70.4% experiencing complete relief of depressive symptoms*. The average medication failures for this patient population was over 3.7 antidepressants.  

From this data, 25 patients diagnosed with MDD who had achieved remission from an acute course of TMS and were able to remain in remission from 6 months to 12 months post-TMS were evaluated for antidepressant medication changes (average months 10.2). Patients were recruited from Dr. Kimberly Cress’ private practice whereby complete records of dates and medication changes could be tracked successfully.  

In this study, 12 of 25 patients had a reduction in the number of medications prescribed, the dose of medications, or a combination of two (see chart below). 10 patients saw no medication changes, while only 3 had an increase in prescribed medications, dose, or a combination of both.

This study shows that those who achieve wellness in an acute course of TMS have approximately a 1 in 2 chance (48%) of having a reduction in medication, while 2 in 5 (40%) can maintain wellness with no changes in medications.

Dr. Kimberly Cress reported “achieving remission of depressive symptoms is the most important part of what we do; yet, if we can reduce medications or not increase medications to keep people well... then that is another benefit in using TMS Therapy.”

*The clinical outcomes for the treated sample were the response and remission rates at the end of the acute phase of treatment compared to baseline using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale.  Response rates were determined based upon a minimum 50% reduction in symptom score compared to baseline for the BDI. Remission rates were determined by a symptom score of ≤13 on the BDI scale. All pre-treatment, intra- and post-treatment data was input into a proprietary patient database (TMS TrakStar™) which facilitated retrospective TMS data reporting and documentation.

About TMS Therapy

TMS Therapy is currently indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medication in the current episode. TMS Therapy is a non-systemic (does not circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body) and non-invasive (does not involve surgery) form of neuromodulation. It stimulates nerve cells in the brain by delivering highly focused MRI-strength magnetic field pulses which lead to activation of cortical and deep brain structures known to be involved in mood regulation. The treatment is available by prescription and typically administered daily for 4-6 weeks. The first TMS Therapy device, NeuroStar TMS Therapy System, was FDA-cleared in 2008 on the basis of the largest randomized controlled trial evaluating TMS in depression.  The TMS Serenity Center has performed over 7,500 treatments since April of 2010.  

About Depression

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects over 16 million lives in the U.S., or approximately 6.7% of American adults in a given year.  Approximately 50% of these people seek help for this condition, and more than 30% do not receive adequate treatment from medications alone. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, non-systemic therapy that uses pulsed magnetic fields to induce an electric current in the brain that results in localized neuronal depolarization and beneficial effects on the symptoms of MDD.  It is the purpose of this study to evaluate the standardized symptom score outcomes of TMS in routine clinical practice.

 About Dr. Kimberly Cress and the TMS Serenity Center

A graduate from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio Medical School, Dr. Cress' vast experience includes treating patients with treatment refractory depression, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorders at the Mood Disorder Center at Baylor College of Medicine. She was also involved with a variety of clinical trials and a co-author in several journal articles.

In private practice in psychiatry since January 2000, Kimberly Cress, M.D. brings her extensive experience for difficult to treat mental illnesses to the TMS Serenity Center.  The American Psychiatric Association has classified TMS as one of the most effective treatment alternatives for depression after individuals have failed to receive benefit from one antidepressant. Dr. Cress has treated patients with TMS Therapy since April 2010. She has completed Harvard Medical School's Intensive Course in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation along with completing coursework at Duke University in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Her goal is to tailor each person's care to live life without a mental illness. "Treating depression is an art as well as a science. It is important to listen to each person and their history to determine the most effective depression treatment plan."

TMS Serenity Center is the largest TMS provider in Texas. Since April 2010, the TMS Serenity Center under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Cress has been treating patients with a non-drug alternative treatment, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS therapy is one of the most technologically advanced depression treatments. This non-invasive, outpatient therapy is FDA-cleared, for treatment of Major Depression. TMS has helped thousands of individuals who have not received adequate results or experienced side effects from traditional antidepressant medications. Scientific literature also supports the use of TMS for the treatment of anxiety disorders, Bipolar Disorder, chronic pain disorders, and migraine headaches. To date, TMS has not been FDA-cleared for these conditions.

Media Contacts:

Kerstin Brown
TMS Serenity Center
Office: 281.240.4322
Kerstin@kimcress.com

Gregory F. Toso
​TMS Psych Support
Office: 484.709.2412
Cell: 610.750.3039
greg@tmspsychsupport.com



Contact Info:
TMS Psych Support

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