WARREN — Beacon Light Behavioral Health System (BLBHS), an affiliate of Journey Health System, announced it is offering BrainsWay’s Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation™ (TMS) to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD) for adults at their Warren office.

This service is the only one of its kind available in Pennsylvania within 100 miles, according to Beacon Light officials.

“We are pleased to offer an alternative FDAapproved treatment option for our patients who have not responded to medication treatments,” said Dr. John Simora, BLBHS medical director. “This service will complement our current treatment paths that are unique to each patient.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is estimated about 17.3 million American adults suffer from MDD, but nearly 40% of these people may not receive standard treatment options. About 1 in 40 Americans older than 18 are affected by OCD, with the success rate of drug therapy ranging from 40 to 60%.

BrainsWay is a global medical technology company dedicated to advancing modern mental health treatment for patients by using noninvasive neuro-stimulation techniques. The organization has been using Deep TMS, which uses magnetic waves to target areas of the brain, to treat depression since 2013 and received FDA clearance to treat OCD in 2018.

Magnetic waves are administered for 20 minutes via a non-invasive cushioned helmet. Using a high powered-magnet, electrical currents are stimulated in areas of the brain that are associated with mood and anxiety disorders. These magnetic fields allow physicians to stabilize and regulate patient neural activity.

According to past nationwide results, the side effects of Deep TMS are minimal, unlike most antidepressants, and patients can return to normal activities immediately after treatment. “Our goal is to collaborate with local behavioral health and primary care providers to improve outcomes for individuals with treatment-resistant MDD and OCD,” said Dr. John John, BLBHS Outpatient Clinic Medical Director. “We are excited to provide this treatment and are happy to discuss with other psychiatric providers who wish to refer, as well as with PCPs, to learn more about TMS including criteria and referral process for their patients who may benefit from this service.”

“I have to admit going into TMS treatment I was a bit skeptical. For years I battled anxiety and depression. We had exhausted all avenues of medication and therapy. I was at the end of my rope. After two weeks of treatments I started to notice some changes. I had more energy and my mood was feeling lighter. I am now at week five of my treatments and I haven’t felt more alive. The anxiety and panic attacks that took over most of my day every day have diminished considerably. I now want to have conversations and be around people. I’m beginning to enjoy my life again. TMS treatment has given me my life back. I now have control over my life. Not the depression controlling me. I now have a future and something to look forward to,” an anonymous TMS patient said.

Referrals for TMS are being accepted by calling (814) 723-1832. For more information about BLBHS, visit beacon-light.org.