Has anyone found TMS to be helpful?

[glowing.purple.aura]

I'm considering TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) to treat my Major Depressive Disorder and possibly my OCD if it's covered by my insurance. In the past, I have tried:

• Psychotherapy/Talk therapy (with numerous therapists across 12 years)
• Family therapy
• Exposure therapy
• Medication (~10 different ones, some of which I'm still on)
• 2 IOPs (Intensive Outpatient Programs)
• 2 PHPs (Partial Hospitalization Programs)
• and 1 hospitalization (lasting 10 days)

with little-to-moderate improvement that doesn't last more than a few months. I'm wondering what others' experiences with TMS have been (if it was helpful, where you saw the most improvement, etc.) and so I'm making this thread.

 

[madsxcxc]

Hi, I also have MDD and OCD along with BPD. I've been in talk therapy with multiple therapists for about 5 years now, have tried 10+ medications and have attended a IOP, PHP and resiedntial with little-to-no improvement. Unfortunately TMS didn't do anything for me. They say that you're supposed to be in a calm/pleasant state of mind during the treatment itself so maybe that's why it didn't work - I often ruminate and went through a major trauma recently so that wasn't really possible for me. Even with insurance the cost was pretty bad, it was $50 per session and it was nearly 40 sessions... sucks that it was for nothing but apparently it works for a large number of people. If you've been stuck for a while I feel like you should give it a try. It could definitely be the thing that helps.

 

[dragonofenvy]

I would also be very interested in knowing. I might end up doing it myself in a couple months, but I have to do a PHP first.

I know for me it's covered by insurance. For me, I think it's worth giving a shot since it isn't invasive. If that doesn't work that I probably do Electro Convulsive Therapy is the last resort, as that was an option my psychologist floated.

For me it'd be treating Persistent Depressive Disorder, Trauma/Stressor Related Disorder, & ASD. I'll give you some updates when I go through with it but it will be a while. Even without me, I think you should try it, especially since if it doesn't work, it wasn't invasive at all and they're pretty quick too. Best case: You get significant improvements. Or of course, you can skip it entirely, but I don't think doing nothing is a good option. Might as well try.