Below you will find the first set of frequently asked questions about psychiatric treatments and their answers.
• Do the English and Turkish terms for TMS refer to different treatments?
The English and Turkish terms for TMS refer to the same treatment. Both mean transcranial magnetic stimulation in their respective languages.
• Does TMS treatment involve electric shocks?
No; TMS treatment aims to stimulate nerve cells in the brain by delivering magnetic pulses to the brain. Shock therapy, or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and TMS are different treatments.
• Which treatment is better or more effective: TMS or ECT (electroconvulsive therapy, electroshock)?
While TMS is a treatment safely used on an outpatient basis for many neuropsychiatric conditions, ECT is administered under anesthesia for relatively more severe mental illnesses requiring hospitalization. The relative advantages of the two treatments and the circumstances in which each is preferred should be assessed for each individual patient.
• How can I persuade my partner to attend relationship therapy?
If you feel the need to attend couples therapy but think you cannot persuade your partner, one question you should keep in mind is ‘why am I insisting when my partner is making no effort in this direction?’ This most likely has something to do with you. Sometimes, while one partner has already completely ended the relationship emotionally, the other wants to attend couples therapy to ‘fix things’ but may actually be going through a stage in which they struggle to see things they do not want to accept. In addition, some of the underlying reasons why a partner does not want to attend couples therapy may include concerns about being labeled, feeling like a failure or feeling inadequate, and avoiding facing truths about themselves. At this point, it is recommended that you speak openly, clearly and honestly with your partner about their reluctance, and if they remain determined not to attend, that the willing partner continue with individual therapy.
• I have been treated for depression. Will it come back?
Although estimates vary between studies, an individual’s lifetime risk of developing depression is around 15–18% on average. During a first depressive episode, approximately 85% of individuals respond well to treatment, while depression becomes chronic in about 15%. According to research, the rate of relapse within 5 years is over 50% in someone who has experienced depression once, while relapse rates rise above 80% in someone who has had two or more depressive episodes, and response rates to medication decrease.
Risk factors for recurrence of depression
- Presence of residual symptoms
- Inadequate treatment
- Previous episodes of depression
- Chronic depression
- Family history of mood disorders
- Presence of anxiety and substance use
- Onset of depression in later life
