Mental health is just as important as physical health these days, yet nationally 56 percent of adults did not receive treatment, according to a report from the Governor’s Commission on Behavioral Health released in 2019. The same report stated that 63 percent of adults with mental illness in Nevada did not receive treatment last year. It is very likely that these figures have increased during the pandemic.
However, there is hope, and clinically proven treatments beyond the traditional talk therapy and medication are available. “The population of our community is growing at a higher rate and so is depression. According to the CDC, the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of depressive disorder increased from 36.4 percent last year to 41.5 percent this year,” says Judith Leitich, FNP, Medical Director of TMS & Brain Health Las Vegas. “Having TMS & Brain Health here to help with the demand for mental health care is a welcome positive addition for the local community.”
Since opening in October of 2021, this cutting-edge clinic has been able to serve the community in new ways. Here are some of the innovative procedures currently offered at TMS & Brain Health Located at 2820 W Charleston Blvd, Unit 38, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
What Is TMS?
Treating depression can be challenging and there are times when traditional medication simply doesn’t help or the side effects become another challenge altogether. If this is the case, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an alternative worth considering. A recent study showed that TMS has an 82 percent success rate in terms of significant improvement and a 63 percent remission rate. In addition to depression, this FDA-approved procedure can also be used to treat anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.
TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate parts of the brain that are under-active in people suffering from depression. While patients may feel slight discomfort during the procedure, it’s relatively painless and fast. Patients are able to drive themselves to and from the appointment as well as resume their lives or return to work immediately after the appointment.
Because the clinicians at TMS & Brain Health create highly customized treatment plans for their patients, the clinic sees higher success rates than other providers that only offer a one-size-fits-all approach.
Theta Burst Stimulation
Theta Burst Stimulation is a newer type of TMS offered at TMS & Brain Health in Las Vegas. This procedure mimics the endogenous frequency that occurs in the brain when people learn new things. “By using this frequency during TMS, people learn and respond up to ten times faster than traditional TMS,” says Leitich.
This often means fewer sessions than traditional TMS. This may be a better choice for busy professionals, people with less flexible schedules, and limited availability.
Ketamine Treatment
Originally used as a pediatric anesthetic, ketamine has shown to be an effective drug for fighting depression. It belongs to a class of treatments called dissociative or anesthetics, this alternative treatment has had many studies behind it that have concluded it to be an effective treatment for depression.
TMS & Brain Health also offers a variety of ketamine programs including Ketamine infusions, Ketamine nasal spray, and Ketamine rapid dissolve tablets (RDTs). For some people, especially those with TRD (treatment-resistant depression) Ketamine is truly the “magic pill,” they’ve been looking for. Studies have shown that Ketamine helps with other conditions including, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and even chronic pain.
So how exactly does Ketamine work? “One likely explanation is that ketamine blocks the NMDA receptor in the brain. By blocking this receptor, this action increases a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the spaces between neurons which facilitates interneuron communication with each other along the pathway known as synaptogenesis,” explains Leitich. “This action affects mood, cognition, and thought patterns which result in an antidepressant effect. Delivering Ketamine at a low dose has shown to be effective for depression.”
The Future Of TMS & Brain Health
In addition to TMS, Theta Burst Stimulation, and Ketamine treatments, TMS & Brain Health plans to offer more innovative treatments in the near future including neurofeedback and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. To schedule an appointment visit TMS Brain & Health Website.
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