NeuroStar® has been cleared by the FDA as an adjunct* in the treatment of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). NeuroStar, now offered at Travco, delivers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive therapy that uses targeted pulses to help activate areas of the brain involved in OCD. (NeuroStar also treats major depression. See Travco’s blog post for more details.)
Before beginning NeuroStar treatment, each patient meets with a provider at Travco for a 60–90-minute consultation. During this initial consultation, the patient learns about NeuroStar and the Travco provider learns about the patient’s obsessions/compulsions, typical avoidance strategies and specific symptoms in order to create a treatment plan to best address the patient’s needs.
A full treatment cycle of NeuroStar for OCD is 29 sessions, which takes place in the Travco office on an outpatient basis over a six-week period (typically, treatment is provided once per day for five days in weeks one through five and once per day for four days in the sixth week). Each treatment lasts approximately 18 minutes.
There is no anesthesia or sedation. Patients are fully alert during treatment and can resume normal activities immediately after a treatment session. Before treatment begins, a small magnetic coil is positioned lightly on the patient’s head. During treatment, patients recline comfortably in a treatment chair and are able to watch TV, read or chat with the treatment provider.
The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is administered regularly throughout the treatment cycle to help determine the patient’s baseline as well as weekly symptom reduction. The Y-BOCS is a reliable rating instrument that determines the severity of both obsessions and compulsions according to the time occupied, level of impairment in the person’s life and how much resistance and control the individual has regarding the obsessions/compulsions.
NeuroStar offers hope and the opportunity for an improved quality of life for those suffering from OCD who have been unable to experience lasting relief through traditional treatment methods alone.
* NeuroStar is an adjunct treatment for OCD. This means that the patient will be required to continue with other interventions (medication/therapy) while receiving the NeuroStar treatment.
For more information about NeuroStar for OCD—including insurance coverage—contact Travco today at 330.286.0050!
