Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, most comonly known as OCD, is a chronic and disabling disorder that includes a combination of anxiety-inducing thoughts and behaviors. These symtoms can be time consuming and can create significant distress on the individual experiencing it. It is even considered one of the ten most disabling disorders by the World Health Organization. 

The symptoms of OCD in adults are:

• Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt
• Obsessive thoughts about losing control
• Excessive double checking of things 
• Counting, tapping, or repeating certain words to reduce anxiety
• Accumulating "junk" such as old newspapers and old containers
• Constant need for order and symmetry 
• Check out our blog about "What is OCD" to find out more about the symptoms by clicking this link. 

It is crucial to identify these symtoms in yourself or others so ensure that individuals get the proper care and treatments before the symtoms can affect your daily lifestyle. Fortunately, OCD can be treated with medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and/or psychotherapy like Cognititve Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In a a study done by Carmi et al. they investigated both the clinical and electrophysiological outcomes of TMS in OCD patients. In their study, they concluded that high frequency TMS targetting the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex alleviates OCD symptoms and can be used as a novel therapeutic intervention. They indicated that the treatment is safe, toleratble, and effecrtive in reducing OCD symptoms. Find the entire paper regarding the study by clicking this link. 

If you have any questions or think you can benefit from these treatments give us a call at (714) 867-7037.