Depression FAQs

The exact cause of depression is not known, but leading research in Neuroscience points to an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters as the manifestation of depression. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. A person’s genetic makeup and life history may also determine a person’s tendency to become depressed.

The exact cause of depression is not known, but leading research in neuroscience points to an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters as the manifestation of depression. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells. A person’s genetic makeup and life history may also determine a person’s tendency to become depressed.

Yes. The National Institute of Mental Health maintains that, “Depressive illness can often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person.” A national study of depression found that nearly all the respondents who reported a major depressive disorder also reported that their social and/or work lives were negatively affected by their illness.¹ In 2010, the economic burden of depression was estimated at $210 billion in the US² and depression was the second leading cause of disability, accounting for almost 20% of all years of life lost to disability and premature death.³ Depression can also be a lethal disease. Each year in the US, over 30,000 people die by suicide, 60% of whom suffer from depression. ^{4, 5}

TMS is a safe and effective treatment for depression. It is particularly recommended for patients who have not responded to medication or other treatments.

Scientific studies have shown that two out of three patients reported benefiting from TMS.

TMS can also be used for patients looking to lower the dose of antidepressant medication or for anyone hoping to cease taking medication entirely. This would be done under the supervision of a doctor. Magnetic stimulation can therefore be an excellent way to support this transition process.

There are many factors that can predispose certain people towards depression more than others. However, the exact causation between these factors and the occurrence of depression is still being researched and debated. Some of these risk factors include:

• Suffering from certain medical illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders
• Hereditary predispositions to depression are passed through genes.
• Experiencing a serious loss, a difficult relationship, a financial problem, or any stressful change in life pattern.
• Taking certain medications may increase vulnerability to depression.

According to the standard diagnosis guide (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association, depression is diagnosed when an individual is experiencing either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure plus four or more of the following depression symptoms during the same two-week period:

• 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

If you feel you are experiencing any of these depression symptoms, contact your doctor and speak with them about your depression treatment options.

Depression is most often treated with psychotherapy (talk therapy) and antidepressant medications administered together. Although antidepressants can be effective for many patients, they do not work for everybody. Additionally, since antidepressants are typically taken by mouth, they circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body, often resulting in unwanted side effects. More than 4 million patients do not receive adequate benefit from antidepressant medications and/or cannot tolerate the side effects caused by them. For these patients, alternative treatments are available, usually involving a medical device. These treatments include: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).