With a ray of hope for those who await psychiatry’s acceptance of integrative and holistic treatments, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has arrived. This MRI-strength magnetic stimulation is being used by more enlightened psychiatrists across the country to treat difficult cases of depression. I interview Philip Botkiss, MD about his experience using TMS on this week’s episode of Mental Health Exposed.
According to the Mayo Clinic: Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation may be tried when other depression treatments haven’t worked.
With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a large electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet used in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation creates electric currents that stimulate nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression.
Philip Botkiss, MD, a psychiatrist practicing in San Diego, uses TMS regularly with his patients. Dr. Botkiss tells us what TMS is, how it works and the impressive yet realistic results he has seen with over 60 patients.
This information is critical for the fields of mental health and psychiatry.
As a culture we desperately need more psychiatrists to open their minds to holistic treatment options! We need to recognize and spread the word about innovators in the field like Dr. Botkiss who are leading the way toward true integrative medicine for mental health patients.
Depression is serious.
Dr. Botkiss also embraces and practices conventional psychiatry, which makes this episode even more interesting, as I take the opportunity to ask him how he justifies treatment like ECT.
Mike Bundrant
Sources for this article include:
mayoclinic.com
tmssandiegoca.com/
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