An Alternative Treatment for Depression

Depression is a disease that stems from inactivity in certain parts of the brain. It is a very serious illness affecting approximately 350 million people worldwide. While medications may help manage symptoms, many patients are not satisfied with the results they get from standard antidepressant drug therapy. Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital is bringing new hope to patients every day with NeuroStar TMS Therapy®, a new drug-free treatment for depression.

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and is an FDA-approved therapy for adults with major depression who have not adequately benefited from antidepressant medication. TMS is similar to MRI technology and is very safe and effective. It uses highly focused magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain that are known to affect mood regulation. TMS targets the areas of the brain that tend to be underactive in adults with depression. It is non-invasive and free of the side effects that patients often experience when they take antidepressants, such as weight gain, nausea and mood swings.

TMS is an outpatient procedure. Each treatment takes approximately 37 minutes and patients receive therapy five days a week for approximately four to six weeks. During treatment, patients are awake and alert. Also, there is no recovery time, no risk of memory loss or other negative side effects. Patients can go back to their normal activities immediately after each treatment.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, call Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital at the location nearest to you to speak with one of our TMS specialists for more information or to schedule a consultation:
Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital in Panama City: 850-763-0038
Okaloosa Outpatient Center in Fort Walton Beach: 850-226-7893

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital’s TMS specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. For Panama City, call 850-763-0038 or, for Fort Walton Beach, call 850-226-7893.

Emergency assessments are available 24 hours every day for inpatient services. To arrange a confidential assessment at no cost, call 850-763-0017 and ask to speak with an assessment and referral counselor.