An Effective Treatment for Depression & OCD
by Rebecca Evans
Photos by: NuMe TMS Clinics
Almost 16.2 million adults in the US have experienced at least one major depressive episode. Unfortunately, that number is on the rise. Standard care for most depression, once diagnosed, involves medication and psychotherapy, but the side effects of drugs steer those suffering away from treatment instead of towards help.
Dr. David Kent, a psychiatrist in the Treasure Valley, has practiced for over 30 years, brings new hope to those enduring, not only depression but other brain disorders, such as OCD.
“I believe Deep TMS Therapy, a non-medicated approach to depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is the future,” Dr. Kent said.
TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a noninvasive and FDA-approved treatment, uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain nerve cells. It’s similar to an MRI but uses less intense mag-netism. TMS coils give electromagnetic pulses, with each pulse stimulating neurons in the brain to fire, or activate, targeting specific cortex.
“In cases where patients have failed on traditional treatment for depression, such as drugs, TMS can offer relief, and often full remission,” said Dr. Kent.
There are at least seventeen circuits in the brain. Three or four of them are associated with de-pression. When depression hits, the brain, impacted, under functions. TMS creates neuroplastici-ty, changing these parts of the brain (proven through medical imaging post-TMS treatment), re-storing function to those parts.
TMS therapy does not require hospitalization or anesthesia. There is no memory loss. TMS of-fers durability, meaning that 75% of patients stay or remain in remission six months later, even without medications.
“Before Deep TMS, I was mentally numb, tired, suffering with anxiety and depression all my life,” said Kelly K. in a recent testimonial. Medication offered her short-term relief, but soon, it would become ineffective and she would have to switch to a new drug or another combination of prescribed medications.
“I was skeptical when I first heard of TMS,” she said. “But nothing else worked for me.”
Kelly had been on disability for four years when she met Dr. Kent. She had tried eight to twelve medications. Once an RN, she had missed her productive life and her struggle with depression became disabling. After TMS treatment, she returned to employment and, today, at 55 years old, she works full-time as a nurse, medication-free.
“The fog is lifted. I see colors. I feel calmness,” she said. “I’m excited about my life, about my future.”
Dr. Kent has spent the majority of his career in Psychiatry, which included prescribing medica-tions for patients like Kelly.
“My passion has always been to help others,” he said. “I wanted them to live, pain-free lives. To find relief.”
Two years ago, Dr. Kent, already practicing TMS, was approached by Brainsway, a TMS com-pany with superior and patented technology.
“Since then, I’ve successfully treated over 200 patients,” Dr. Kent shared. “90% have had favor-able response rates with a 70% or greater rate of remission.”
The exciting thing is that most of Dr. Kent’s patients are like Kelly, they’ve tried and failed in psy-chotherapy and/or medication-treatment plans. The demographics of his patients is considered the most difficult to treat, which makes these results even more significant.
Dr. Kent travels the world, attending TMS conferences, reviewing leading research and meeting with industry leaders to help educate consumers about this treatment. There are more research papers, 15,000 submitted last year alone, than any other drug or treatment plan on the market to date.
TMS is not new. It was discovered in 1985 in London, England, and in 1993, a first double-blind placebo trial led the explosion of the treatment.
“I’ve longed to help others throughout my career,” said Dr. Kent. “TMS is the most satisfying thing I’ve done in my entire life.”
Dr. Kent practices exclusively deep TMS and has given up the other aspects of his private prac-tice, such as prescribing medication and hospital work. Instead, he invests in creating public awareness through his website, podcast, numerous magazine articles, KTVB appearances, so-cial media, billboard advertising, and public speaking to interested groups.
For more information, please visit www.numetms.com
