A New Option for Treating Depression
The West Coast TMS Institute is pleased to offer one of the most advanced options for treating depression, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS. TMS is an ideal alternative for patients who have not responded adequately to antidepressant medication or who cannot tolerate medication side effects.TMS differs from traditional drug therapy in the way that it works. By applying a series of magnetic pulses to the outside of the head, TMS therapy acts non-invasively and directly on very specific areas of the brain. Although the exact mechanism of action of TMS is not known, these pulses are thought to modulate brain connections and neurochemistry, promoting the lifting and remission of depression.
MORE REASONS TO CHOOSE TMS
- Proven Effective – Extensive clinical research has proven the effectiveness of TMS in treating patients with major depression who have not benefited from prior medication treatment.
- Non-invasive – TMS therapy does not involve surgery, anesthesia or sedation. You remain awake during each session and can comfortably watch TV or participate in therapy or meditation.
- Non-Systemic – TMS does not cause medications to circulate throughout the body; therefore, TMS may be an option for depressed patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who cannot tolerate medication side effects.
- Outpatient Procedure – You are in and out of your treatment session quickly, and can drive to and from our office, continuing with your day without difficulty.
- Side Effects Are Mild, If Any – Although uncommon, mild scalp discomfort from initial treatments is usually temporary and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicine.
- Convenient Treatment Schedule – We work hard to accommodate your schedule and can provide treatment before and after hours and on weekends.
"A National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored, controlled, randomized, industry-independent study concluded that TMS was "a monotherapy with few adverse effects and significant antidepressant effects for unipolar depressed patients who do not respond to medications or who cannot tolerate them."
George et al. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2010;67(5):507-516." rTMS deserves a place in the standard toolbox of psychiatric treatment methods, as it is effective for depression and AVH (auditory visual hallucinations) and has a mild side effect profile."
Conclusion from Slotema et al. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 2010;71(7):873–884.
REASONS TO CONTACT US
West Coast TMS Institute Offers:
- Empathic, Committed, Patient-Focused Care - Each patient is appreciated as an individual with unique needs, and we strive to provide personalized attention and care. We understand that depression is a painful condition, and are committed to understanding your specific situation in order to most effectively support you as you take the next step in your treatment.
- Leadership and Clinical Excellence - The Institute is directed by Kira Stein MD, a board-certified psychiatrist who has completed Harvard Medical School's intensive TMS program at the Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation. Dr. Stein trained at the UCLA adult psychiatry residency program and is a clinical instructor in psychiatry at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. Stein is one of very few Los Angeles psychiatrists specifically trained in all three disciplines of (1) TMS (2) general adult psychiatry for both men and women and (3) reproductive psychiatry.
She brings over a decade of clinical experience to our center. Dr. Stein is a founding member of the Southern California TMS Society. - State-of-the-Art Technology - We use the only FDA-approved and most advanced TMS device for the treatment of depression, the NeuroStar TMS Therapy® system.
- Centralized Location - Located in Sherman Oaks, West Coast TMS Institute makes TMS accessible to patients from all parts of the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles.
- Responsive & Communicative - We are devoted to responding to the needs of our patients. We value and appreciate the importance of teamwork and are dedicated to keeping your mental health team connected and in the loop.
When You Select the West Coast TMS Institute You Will Get:
- A COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION - TMS is appropriate for some, but not all patients. When you come to the West Coast TMS Institute for a consultation, you receive a complete psychiatric evaluation to fully assess your diagnostic and treatment options. We make every effort to provide clients and their referring primary providers with objective, expert advice on all appropriate approaches to treatment, even if we find that the next best step in treatment is not TMS.
- A Compassionate, Caring and Experienced Staff - We provide a level of service that is second to none, and measure our success by your results.
- Highly Experienced Staff - All staff members are certified and experienced in TMS. The Institute's medical director, Dr. Kira Stein, offers patients extensive medical experience with state-of-the-art treatments.
- Respect for Your Time – We allow enough time between appointments so that you receive the care you deserve while avoiding extended wait times. You are therefore provided ample opportunity for discussion, questions, and treatment in a setting that is non-rushed and relaxed.
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Only those physicians with near perfect overall and bedside manner scores, as voted by their patients, are selected for the Compassionate Doctor recognition. Of the nation's 720,000 active physicians, only 3% were accorded this honor in 2011. The Compassionate Doctor certification is part of the Patients' Choice recognition program, where patients rate and vote for their favorite doctors.
Dr. Stein was named one of eighty best doctors in the San Fernando Valley by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal on Dec. 20, 2010. Dr. Stein has again been elected by her peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America® from 2003 to 2012. Over the last 15 years, Best Doctors has earned worldwide acclaim for its remarkable database of physicians.
The Best Doctors database is the world's premier effort to create a validated, peer-reviewed database of excellence in medicine. The Best Doctors methodology is rigorously impartial and strictly independent. Doctors cannot pay to be included in the database and are not paid to complete the survey. The only way to be recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® is for a doctor to earn high marks for clinical ability from his or her peers.
