Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is one of the safest and most effective treatments for major depression. The FDA has approved it to treat teenagers and adults but only for a time-limited course of care. For most people, that is all the treatment they need. For others, they require maintenance (continuation) TMS. This article reviews the research and rationale that shows the need for the FDA to approve maintenance TMS now.

The FDA got it right when they approved TMS therapy for adolescent depression (kids aged 15 and older). TMS is one of the most effective treatments for resistant depression. The decision to approve this treatment for kids is an absolute game-changer and will save many young lives. This article describes the dramatic impact of the FDA’s approval and covers research that shows TMS for kids to be safe, well-tolerated, and effective.

What is really happening behind the scenes at insurance companies to block patients from more expensive (and sometimes more effective) medical treatments? This article discusses the need for transparency and reform of the involvement of “hired gun” physicians in routine denials of medical coverage.

Some medications are not friendly to your thyroid gland. You would expect that all doctors would be well-informed of the most likely culprits. So, how did Seroquel (quetiapine) slip through the cracks? This article takes a look at Seroquel (quetiapine) – one of the biggest troublemakers of thyroid function – and what can you do to protect yourself and the people you care about.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been available for decades for the treatment of seizures and more recently for the treatment of depression. This article explains the theory behind how VNS works, its outcomes for bipolar and unipolar depression and the potential downsides of the treatment.

The Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act (SBHPA) was a major step toward mental health parity in the US. Before its passage, many Americans, especially those with ERISA-based health plans, were not protected by federal and state mental health parity laws. This article describes the history of mental health parity and what people can do to advocate for themselves.

Many people are not told what to expect when prescribed an antidepressant medication. Basic information, such as the dosing range, the goal of treatment, how side effects can be overcome and how long to stay on the medication, is frequently left out of a clinical encounter. This article outlines a methodical approach to antidepressant treatment for depression.

It has been definitively proven that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression. The researchers in the Stanford SAINT study achieved better results in a shorter time, getting 90.5% of severely depressed patients to full freedom from depression.

50% of lifetime mental illness starts by age 14 and 75% of lifetime mental illness starts by age 24. It has been conclusively proven that mental illness is a disease of youth, yet the FDA has done little to approve mental health treatments for youth. This article addresses some of the enormous missteps by the FDA and what they – and you – can do today to improve the mental health of children.