CalTMS, a behavioral health practice which specializes in the treatment of depression, will hold a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event on Friday, May 21, at 11 a.m. at 520 N. Coast Hwy Ste., 103, in Oceanside, in partnership with the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Medical staff and clinicians will be available to answer questions about the latest non-drug treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS. The event is open to the public. Located near Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, military personnel and families are encouraged to attend. Register in advance at https://bit.ly/3yiWB4U
“Advanced mental health services are greatly needed and we’re happy that CalTMS has located in Oceanside to serve those who suffer from depression,” adds Scott Ashton, CEO of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.
When Anti-Depressants Don’t Work, This FDA Approved Treatment Is Shown To Be Effective.
CalTMS is widely known for using NeuroStarâ Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy, a non-invasive, non-systemic, non-drug treatment for depression approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008. TMS Therapy uses a targeted pulsed magnetic field, similar to the magnetic field produced by an MRI machine, to stimulate the area of the brain, which is involved in mood regulation, and has been shown to be under-active in individuals struggling from depression. “This medical treatment can help people who struggle with major depressive disorder, even after taking antidepressant medication,” explains Yashwant Chaudhri, MD, CalTMS’s Chief Medical Officer. “This therapy helps activate the natural function of the brain’s neurotransmitters using a non-invasive magnetic field. Because TMS Therapy is a non-drug treatment, people don’t experience side effects like those associated with antidepressant medications.”
Quick, Convenient Treatment
A typical course of TMS Therapy is five days per week, for a period of six weeks, with each treatment lasting approximately 19-30 minutes. The parameters, frequency, and number of treatments are customized for each patient by the physician. Patients receive TMS Therapy in an office setting and are awake and alert for the duration of treatment. Anesthesia is not required.
TMS Therapy is non-systemic, meaning that it does not affect other systems of the body except for the targeted brain area. That means you can safely resume your normal daily activities after a TMS Therapy treatment session.
Precisely targeted TMS Therapy makes long-term remission possible, without the side-effects and decreasing effectiveness of drug therapies, according to Dr. Chaudhri. The lead psychiatrist expressed his enthusiasm about their newest location: “In more than 25 years of practicing psychiatry I have treated many patients from the Oceanside area. I am excited to establish a permanent office within this community, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve its residents, including our veteran and military personnel.”
Insurance Coverage
Tricare and Medicare cover TMS Therapy, as well as most major insurance providers.
2020 Depression Statistics
1. Depression is one of the most common mood disorders that can affect anyone at any time. However, military service members are at a particularly higher risk for developing these conditions, according to 2020 research by Healthline.com. “Recent studies show that depression is seen much more often in military service members than in civilians,” states the website posting.
2. Healthline estimated that up to 14 percent of service members experience depression after deployment. “However, this number may be even higher because some service members don’t seek care for their condition,” the article continues. “Additionally, about 19 percent of service members report that they experienced traumatic brain injuries during combat. These types of injuries commonly include concussions, which can damage the brain and trigger depressive symptoms,” states the article.
About CalTMS
For more than 35 years, California Medical Behavioral Health (CMBH) providers have served as leaders in behavioral and mental health care. CalTMS, is a division of CMBH with three offices in San Diego County: National City, Santee and now Oceanside.
For more information about CalTMS or TMS Therapy, please visit the website at https://caltms.com/ or call (800) 985-7580.
