Seven years ago, my practice began using a new treatment for depression that was cleared by the FDA in 2008, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a technology I have been following for the previous 20 years, and it appeared to have the potential to help people struggling with depression that had not benefited from prior treatment. The research demonstrated that the treatment protocols had progressed to the point we could have reliable treatment results. Even O, The Oprah Magazine touted TMS as a treatment to watch over the next 10 years.
While Oprah is a force to follow, I continued to embrace the technological advancements and positive data outcomes of TMS from the mental health community. Collectively, this led me to focus my Middle Tennessee practice efforts, originally launching Nashville TMS in 2010. We chose this company name to indicate explicitly what we did and where we did it.
Over the years, we have had the opportunity to treat hundreds of patients and have seen a positive response in more than three-quarters of our patients, a vast majority of whom have been struggling mightily, and it is great to see improvement.
In late 2016, we began a self-evaluation of our company. We took a deep dive internally and analyzed what we do outwardly to the people and communities we serve. This reflection period enabled us to recognize that we are doing much more what our company name, Nashville TMS represented.
Thus, we have changed our name to ThriveLogic TMS +NeuroHealth, because we see patients begin to thrive and we realize that TMS is a logical next step in treating depression. Not only is it more effective than other treatment modalities, but also it has a better side-effect profile than medications, and we now know that it proves to be more sustainable.
Research has been ongoing and remains to be positive. Since O, The Oprah Magazine’s first highlight on TMS seven years ago to the last issue reporting that TMS is a promising treatment for depression, it’s clear that TMS is truly shaping our future.
By: W. Scott West, M.D.