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Innovative Depression Treatment at BrainCare Carlsbad
This non-invasive, drug-free treatment can relieve your symptoms, even when your depression hasn’t responded to other treatments.
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Do you or someone you know struggle with depression that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments? You’re not alone, and there is hope.
At BrainCare Carlsbad, we specialize in innovative treatments that have brought relief to many patients who haven’t found success with other methods.
Our primary focus is on two groundbreaking therapies, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT), which are designed to treat various forms of depression.
What sets these treatments apart? They’re drug-free, non-invasive, and known for their gentle yet effective approach. Patients often experience lasting results, and some even discontinue their medications entirely after treatment.
We understand how challenging and disheartening it can be to live with depression that persists despite traditional treatments. That’s why we’re here to offer a new ray of hope with rTMS and MeRT® — a path to the relief you’ve been looking for.
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What Does Depression Do to the Brain?
Depression is more than just a mood. It’s a neurological condition that significantly impacts how your brain functions.
Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can lead to the pervasive symptoms of depression.
This image illustrates how depression alters brain activity and chemical balance, leading to the challenges you face every day.
Fortunately, your brain can often repair itself. This concept, known as neuroplasticity, refers to how the brain can change, reorganize, or grow neural networks.
Our depression treatments (MeRT and rTMS) work directly on those neural networks to improve your symptoms and bring you relief.
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The Science of Relief: How rTMS and MeRT® Work
Depression changes your brain, decreasing nerve activity in the areas responsible for regulating your mood.
Depression changes your brain, decreasing nerve activity in the areas responsible for regulating your mood.
At BrainCare Carlsbad, we harness the power of magnetic stimulation to relieve your depression symptoms.
• rTMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, improving symptoms of depression. Read more about rTMS here.
• MeRT, on the other hand, is a personalized form of treatment that tailors the approach to your unique brain wave patterns. Read more about MeRT here.
MeRT and rTMS use magnetic impulses to stimulate the underperforming brain areas and restore normal nerve activity. As your brain function improves, so does your depression.
“For anyone suffering from depression, anxiety, and other symptoms, I highly recommend the Brain Treatment Center. My adult son, who has suffered from both problems his entire life, and has been on medication, realized a positive change after the first visit. We saw dramatic improvement after each visit.” – Harold H.
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Our Depression Treatment Protocols: A Step-by-Step Journey to Wellness
Your journey to recovery is carefully planned and executed. It starts with a thorough evaluation, then a consultation, followed by a tailored treatment plan.
1. During your first appointment, we perform a qualitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) to map your brainwaves and identify dysfunctional areas. At the same time, we do an electrocardiogram (EKG) to compare with your qEEG.
2. At your second appointment, your provider reviews your test results with you and discusses your treatment plan. If you decide to move forward, we schedule your rTMS sessions.
3. After every two weeks of treatment, we perform another qEEG and EKG to see how your brain is responding. We then book additional treatments in two-week intervals if your symptoms and brainwave patterns improve.
We understand these are relatively new treatments, and you may have many questions. Rest assured, both rTMS and MeRT® are safe, non-invasive, and have minimal side effects.
“I felt like I was alone, even though I was surrounded by love and care. It was just a cloud that would linger over my life every now and again. The Brain Treatment Center helped me better understand what was going on in my head. After a month of treatment, I was grateful to be depression-free and medication-free for the first time in my life.” – Patient after Depression Treatment
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Studies on the Effectiveness of rTMS for Depression Treatment
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of rTMS in reducing depression symptoms. Here are three of the most recent:
• A 2023 meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials found that rTMS was significantly more effective than its sham counterpart in treating Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who had experienced two treatment failures.
“The results of this meta-analysis… proved that rTMS treatment may be used effectively in the treatment of TRD, as it offers the possibility of achieving not only a symptomatic response, but also a complete remission in patients, who respond well to the treatment.”
• An October 2022 meta-analysis studied 65 randomized controlled trials, gathering data from nearly 3,000 patients. They confirmed that rTMS is effective in treating depression symptom reduction, response, and remission.
“In summary, our results are clinically relevant and support the use of rTMS as a non-invasive and effective treatment option for different levels of treatment resistant depression.”
• A June 2022 review of 17 randomized controlled trials showed rTMS to be effective, safe, and well tolerated in depression treatment, with significant symptom relief.
“For patients with TRD, rTMS appears to provide significant benefits through the reduction of depressive symptoms…”
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Our Depression Treatment is Based on Years of Independent, Published Research Studies
The science and protocols behind rTMS and MeRT® are based on years of authoritative research published in some of the most prestigious scientific journals. Here are just some of these.
“This data provides a demonstration of significant reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms and safety with the application of a-rTMS in active-duty special operations military personnel. Expansion of targeted neuromodulation programs could be impactful for military and civilian populations.”
“Several meta-analyses proved the efficacy of rTMS treatment in MDD, which is comparable to pharmacotherapy, and may have even better tolerability. Our results strengthened that rTMS is associated with clinically relevant antidepressant effect in TRD as well, and may be a beneficial tool in the add-on treatment of patients with TRD. Furthermore, rTMS adjunctive treatment to antidepressants was found to be specifically effective in achieving full remission.”
“Overall, 16 out of the 17 studies suggested that rTMS treatment was effective, safe and tolerated in TRD. For patients with TRD, rTMS appears to provide significant benefits through the reduction of depressive symptoms…”
“Data from nearly 3000 patients from 65 randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis. rTMS was confirmed as efficacious in treating depression when looking at symptom reduction, response and remission.”
Experimental depression treatment is nearly 80% effective in controlled study (October 28, 2021)
“In a double-blind controlled study, high doses of magnetic brain stimulation, given on an accelerated timeline and individually targeted, caused remission in 79% of trial participants with severe depression.
“A new type of magnetic brain stimulation brought rapid remission to almost 80% of participants with severe depression in a study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
“rTMS is rapidly gaining popularity as a treatment modality for depression. There is growing evidence to support its use in patients with depression as a monotherapy or as adjunct with pharmacotherapy. Additionally, rTMS has been found to be safe and effective in pregnant patients and elderly patients…”
Use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression (May 2019)
“The clinical efficacy of TMS as an antidepressant has been well established. TMS is an innovative and promising treatment modality for patients with TRD [treatment-resistent depression].”
This study found: “Conclusion: These data confirm that TMS is effective in the acute treatment of MDD in routine clinical practice settings. This symptom benefit is accompanied by statistically and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported QOL [quality of life] and functional status outcomes.”
“These data indicate that TMS is an effective treatment for those unable to benefit from initial antidepressant medication.”
Is Our Depression Treatment Right for You? Answer These Questions:
• Have you taken more than one antidepressant medication?
• Do you have trouble tolerating the medications you take?
• Are the side effects of your current treatment more significant than the benefits?
• Have drugs or psychotherapy been ineffective in treating your depression?
• Are your depression symptoms significantly impacting your life or ability to work or study?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be a great candidate for rTMS or MeRT® treatment.
Don’t let depression control your life any longer. Contact our New Patient Coordinator today for a free consultation and discover if rTMS or MeRT® can help you reclaim your happiness.