IPD in Romeoville offers innovative new TMS treatment

May 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Already widely renowned as a highly reputable practice dedicated to helping patients improve their mental health, The Institute for Personal Development (IPD) is now the destination of choice for people seeking a breakthrough alternative treatment for depression, anxiety and other disorders.

Since IPD implemented a TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) device in its Romeoville clinic in January—making it the first and only known provider of TMS therapy in Will, Grundy, DeKalb, Kankakee, Kendall and LaSalle Counties—word has spread fast about the amazing benefits and possibilities this innovative new treatment offers.

TMS is a non-invasive approach that attempts to stimulate the brain with safe, effective magnetic pulses in the prefrontal cortex—one area of the brain implicated with regulating mood. During treatment, the patient sits back comfortably in a chair, and a magnetic coil is gently positioned on one side of the scalp while the head remains stationary. After careful settings and measurements are determined, the device is turned on and magnetic fields pulse into the brain. Cells are gently stimulated by small electrical fields that are generated by the magnetic pulses.  It is postulated that areas in the depressed brain which show low activity are then stimulated and areas of overly high activity are calmed down. Thus TMS appears to help restore the brain’s imbalance in activity and functioning treating the depression.

TMS has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of depression after years of clinical research, but many clinicians have also been successful in using TMS to aid patients suffering from other conditions: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, neurologic conditions, and addictions.

“TMS is a very exciting, safe and promising treatment approach that we’re proud to offer our patients,” said Ronald J. Wuest, MD, President/Medical Director of IPD, who added that the device used in his Romeoville office is the only FDA-approved TMS machine currently available. “Especially for those with depression, this provides the possibility that you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your medications. It’s a particularly worthwhile alternative for those who cannot tolerate the side effects of prescription drugs.”

An estimated 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population is affected by depression; 30.4% of these cases (or 2% of the U.S. adult population) are classified as “severe”, per the National Institute of Mental Health. What’s more, the World Health Organization estimates that 121 million people across the globe currently suffer from depression.

Dr. Wuest said good candidates for TMS therapy are carefully screened after an initial consultation. Once informed consent is provided, an eligible patient can begin a course of treatment that can take 25 – 30  sessions, each approximately 40 minutes, spread out over five to six weeks, depending on need.

“One patient who was depressed, suicidal and unresponsive to medication began a six-week course of TMS therapy in January,” said Maureen Wuest, BSN, who administers/coordinates the treatment prescribed and calibrated by one of our IPD psychiatrists. “After only the fifth session, a significant improvement was noticed. Following the 10th session, the patient said she was just about back to feeling completely normal. Today, she’s happy and productive, without any relapses or regrets. More typically, patients start to notice benefits l the second or third week of treatment.”

Watching patients recover from clinical depression and other incapacitating maladies “is an absolute joy. It’s like watching a butterfly open up and transform before your eyes,” said Maureen Wuest, who noted that IPD stands out amongst other private practices by having therapy administered/coordinated by a nursing professional. “Here, the patient can rest assured that their care is also scrutinized by the qualified, caring hands of a nurse who can interface directly with the doctor so that any questions or concerns can be addressed immediately. IPD chooses to offer nurse directed care that most other private practices do not”

Dr. Wuest added that TMS is safe, effective and non invasive—not requiring any anesthesia or recuperation period, like other forms of treatment such as electroconvulsive therapy. In addition there are few if any side effects. Some patients can experience minimal side effects during or after a session. These include slight pressure or discomfort at the area of the head being treated or headaches. Some patients also may not respond to treatment, and those with metal implants or certain medical devices in the chest are not eligible candidates. A consultation with a psychiatrist can confirm this.

Dr. Wuest said the most common symptoms of clinical depression include:
•   Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable, including sex
•   Regular fatigue and decreased energy
•   A persistently sad, empty or anxious mood
•   Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
•   Pessimistic and hopeless feelings
•   Feelings of guilt, helplessness and worthlessness
•   Trouble remembering, focusing or making decisions
•   Sleeping too little or too much
•   Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
•   Restlessness and irritability
•   Lowered sexual interest

IPD has a collective team of dedicated practitioners, including expert psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers.

“An IPD clinician can diagnose your problem and recommend a treatment plan, which can include counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, and now TMS therapy—all of which have proven to be highly successful tools to combat these disorders,” Dr. Wuest said.

“What sets The Institute for Personal Development apart from other mental health care practices is its compassionate and thorough approach to each patient’s problem”, said Maureen Wuest. “Our professionals respect the fact that every person is unique and different. Our patients can rest assured that we’ll perform a comprehensive evaluation in an effort to understand you as a complete person—including your lifestyle, relationships and career as well as your physical condition and emotional state.”

To learn more about TMS and if it can help you; schedule an appointment today for a free initial TMS consultation at the IPD clinic in Romeoville at 1255 Windham Parkway. IPD’s Romeoville clinic is located just east of Weber Road, convenient to the I-55 interchange and is 12 minutes directly south of Edward Hospital in Naperville. Phone (815) 942-6323.

For over 22 years, The Institute for Personal Development has provided professional and medical care for individuals facing mental, emotional and substance abuse problems. With over 30 clinicians throughout six clinics, IPD is one of the largest private psychiatric practices in Illinois. IPD has locations in:
•   Joliet at 210 N. Hammes St. Phone (815) 942-6323.
•   Morris at 1401 Lakewood Dr. (Suite A). Phone (815) 942-6323.
•   Ottawa at 807 LaSalle St. Call (815) 942-6323.
•   Romeoville at 1255 Windham Parkway. Phone  815-942-6323
•   Chicago at Two Prudential Plaza, 180 N. Stetson St., Suite 3559. Call (815) 942-6323.
•   Oak Brook at 1415 W. 22nd St., Tower Floor. Phone (815) 942-6323.

For more information about The Institute for Personal Development, visit www.ipd.md. For more information about TMS, including health insurance coverage, benefits of therapy, and efficacy and safety, visit www.NeuroStarTMS.com.

Image caption:  Since IPD implemented a TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) device in its Romeoville clinic in January—making it the first and only known provider of TMS therapy in Will, Grundy, DeKalb, Kankakee, Kendall and LaSalle Counties—word has spread fast about the amazing benefits and possibilities this innovative new treatment offers.