Transcript
The Premier TMS Centers, located in Beverly Hills, Glendale, and Long Beach, are the area's first
and most trusted provider of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This cutting edge, FDA
cleared depression treatment is a non-invasive procedure that does not require sedation, drugs,
and has minimal to no side-effects.
By utilizing MRI-strength magnetic pulses directed at specific locations of the brain, we are able to
stimulate areas known to affect mood and emotional regulation.
As a regional leader in successfully treating patients, the Premier TMS Centers of Los Angeles,
headed by Dr. John Deirmenjian, provide excellent and compassionate care. Over the course of
treatment, we aim to stimulate the brain in a way that can lead to improvements in mood, energy,
productivity, and overall happiness.
Dr. Deirmenjian believes that each patient is unique and
offers a comprehensive approach in his treatment. His
care of patients is customized to meet each individual's
needs. Realizing that all patients respond differently to
treatment, he tailors their care based on a variety of
treatment options. Consequently, his multi-modal
approach promotes a healthy lifestyle incorporating
psychotherapy, diet and exercise, TMS therapy, and
medication management.
Dr. Deirmenjian integrates all aspects of positive mental health in his approach to patients by
coordinating their care with psychotherapists, dieticians, primary care providers, and other
medical professionals. His staff is highly-trained and puts the patient first while providing one-onone nursing care. Dr. Deirmenjian is the first psychiatrist in Beverly Hills to offer the cutting-edge
approach to the treatment of depression: TMS therapy, which was recently chosen by CNN as
being one of the top ten health innovations of 2009.
Dr. John Deirmenjian is a graduate of Pomona College and the University of California, San Diego
School of Medicine, where he graduated with honors in psychiatry.
Prior to his psychiatry residency at UCLA, he attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
School of Medicine for a general surgery intership. Dr. Deirmenjian completed a second year of
surgery residency and two years of a urology residency at the University of California, San
Francisco School of Medicine.
TMS Therapy is a new treatment cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
patients suffering from depression who have not achieved satisfactory improvement from prior
antidepressant treatment.
TMS Therapy is performed in a psychiatric office, under the supervision of Dr. Deirmenjian, using
a medical device called the NeuroStar TMS Therapy system. The typical initial treatment course
consists of at least 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 20-30 total
treatments. Each treatment session lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Why TMS?
TMS is non-invasive, meaning that it does not
involve surgery, anesthesia, or sedation. In fact, the
patient remains awake and alert during the
treatment.
TMS is non-systemic, meaning that, unlike
medication, it is a treatment focused on a particular
brain area and does not circulate in the blood stream
throughout the body.
About Depression
Depression results in a persistent state of sadness or a loss of
the ability to experience pleasure. Those experiencing
depression often lose interest in everyday activities or hobbies
that were once enjoyed.
Symptoms may include:
Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain (a change of more than five percent of
body weight in a month)
Significant increase or decrease in appetite
Excessive sleepiness or insomnia
Agitation and restlessness
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt nearly every day
Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
While the exact cause of depression is not known, it is known that depression is characterized by
an imbalance of the brain's chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters), as well as decreased
activity in the frontal lobes of the brain. Depression is most often treated with antidepressant
medications.
Depression symptoms are most often treated with antidepressant medications. It is believed that
antidepressant medications work by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
These changes have a positive effect on mood and reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.
Unfortunately, treating major depression is sometimes more complicated and requires more than
antidepressants.
Although antidepressants can be effective for many patients, they do not work for everybody. This
condition is sometimes referred to as treatment resistant depression, or drug resistant
depression. Although not a scientific term, treatment resistant depression is real and debilitating
for those dealing with it.
Additionally, since antidepressant medications are typically taken by mouth, they circulate in the
bloodstream throughout the body, often resulting in unwanted side effects such as weight gain,
sexual problems, upset stomach, sleepiness, and dry mouth. More than 4 million patients do not
receive adequate benefit from antidepressants and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by
them.
For these patients, alternative treatments for depression are available. These depression
therapies have proven to work in some people that do not receive benefit from antidepressants
and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them.
For these patients, alternative treatments for depression are available. These depression
therapies have proven to work in some people that do not receive benefit from antidepressants
and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them.
Clinical trials have demonstrated the safety of TMS therapy in over 10,000 active treatments.
Treatment with TMS caused very few side effects and was generally well tolerated by patients.
The most common side effect reported during clinical trials was scalp discomfort, generally mild
to moderate and occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
Fewer than 5% of patients discontinued treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy due to adverse
events.
No systemic side effects
No weight gain
No sexual dysfunction
No sedation
No nausea
No dry mouth
No adverse effects on concentration or memory
No drug interactions
TMS is not recommended for patients in the following categories:
Patients with implanted metallic devices or non-removable metallic objects in or around the
head. This does not include metallic fillings in teeth!
Patients with implants controlled by physiological signals. This includes pacemakers,
implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and vagus nerve stimulators (VNS).
For more information please visit
http://www.premiertmslosangeles.com