How Does TMS Therapy Help with OCD

If you haven’t explored TMS for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), this is an ideal time to see if it’s right for you. It holds especially true if aspects of your life seem out of your control and other therapies haven’t worked for you.

What is OCD?

More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with OCD each year. This mental health condition triggers obsessions, which are irrational fears or thoughts. As the obsessions take hold in the mind, they can lead to compulsive, repetitive behaviors that are employed in an effort to reduce the anxiety behind the troubling thoughts.

The obsessions and compulsions may manifest in several different ways. These can include:

Obsession: A need for order

Compulsion: A constant drive to reorganize objects or place them “just so”

Obsession: Anxious thoughts of danger or harm to self or others

Compulsion: Avoiding situations that may pose a threat, even if the threat is irrational

Obsession: Fear of contamination by dirt, germs, blood or other foreign substance

Compulsion: Excessive hand washing or house cleaning

Scientific research hasn’t pinpointed a particular cause of OCD. It’s thought that certain risk factors contribute to OCD, such as traumatic events or associated mental health issues, including anxiety or depression. But one thing that is known is that the brain plays a significant role.

The brain has an intricate neural network that allows different parts of the brain to communicate with each other. With OCD, particular areas of the brain experience a marked increase in neural activity, which is called hyperconnectivity. This intense, elevated state of communication can trigger the fear and anxiety that lead to obsessions and compulsions.

Standard OCD treatments address the brain’s role in this mental health condition. They include a form of therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP). In ERP, a therapist guides a patient through systematic exposure to situations involving the obsessions, so the patient gradually learns how to cope and lessen their fears. Antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are another type of standard OCD treatment. Examples of SSRI medications for OCD include sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac).

The value of TMS treatment for OCD is that it focuses on those areas of hyperconnectivity in the brain. Plus, it doesn’t carry the risk of side effects that come with medications. Many people turn to TMS for OCD treatment as a next step after medication or cognitive behavioral therapy.

How Effective is TMS in Treating OCD?

TMS was FDA cleared to treat depression in 2008. However, it wasn’t until 2018 that the FDA cleared it for use in OCD treatment.

TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses that target specific areas of the brain through a coil placed near the patient’s left temple. These pulses form painless electrical currents, which affect the brain’s nerve cells. These magnetic pulses can alleviate the hyperconnectivity that leads to OCD symptoms.

TMS is a non-invasive treatment, and it’s tailored to each patient’s unique anatomical brain structure. Patients are comfortably seated throughout a treatment session and can relax and watch TV, read or listen to music. The pulses typically aren’t painful; patients may feel a tapping sensation on their scalp during treatment. There’s no anesthesia required for TMS treatment, which means there’s no downtime—patients can drive themselves home after treatment and they can resume their normal schedule. This makes it easy to fit TMS treatment for OCD into anyone’s schedule.

Results are different for everyone, depending on their symptoms and the severity of the OCD. TMS may be especially effective for people who haven’t found the success they want with standard treatments.

Using TMS treatment for OCD is still relatively new but shows promising results. It’s an exciting field ripe for more research. Greenbrook TMS offers patients expertise in TMS treatment for OCD as well as depression. Our team of Patient Consultants and psychiatrists can develop a treatment plan to help you. Schedule your free consultation with us today.