Top Long Island Psychiatrists Merge - Offer Non-Drug Treatment for Depression

Medford, NY, March 22, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​Top Long Island Psychiatrists Merge

Offer Non-drug Treatment for Depression

"Any person who has not experienced full symptom relief from their current treatments should consider TMS Therapy."

Richard Pitch, MD, Co-MEdical Director

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is one of the few successful, drug-free treatments for depression available.  Its rapid growth on Long Island has prompted two TMS experts to join forces.

The new company, Hope Tree TMS, combines the expertise of two of Suffolk County’s leading psychiatrists, Dr. Richard Pitch and Dr. Rena Ferguson. They offer FREE depression screening, health insurance consultation and information for those seeking to know more about TMS.

The Oakdale TMS Center and the Port Jefferson-based TMS Hope Center of Long Island have provided over 6,000 treatments combined, the most on Long Island.  The merged company opened their new office in Medford, NY on March 1st.

Most often, medications are prescribed as a treatment for depression.  However, these drugs sometimes cause problematic side effects, such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, and sleepiness.  And sometimes medications don’t work or stop working.  Some people also prefer to avoid medications, such as people who are pregnant or those with certain medical conditions. 

TMS is a very safe and effective treatment that offers an alternative to medications.  It was FDA approved to treat depression in 2008, and is covered by Medicare and many commercial health insurances. 

Who Can Benefit from TMS Therapy?

According to Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Pitch, “Any person who has not experienced full symptom relief from their current treatments should consider TMS Therapy.”  Furthermore, “TMS Therapy is often the best choice for patients that are not responding to multiple medication attempts or find that the side-effects of antidepressants outweigh the benefits of the medications.”  Her partner, Dr. Pitch, presented data at the international Clinical TMS Society last year on his clinical results on the first 42 patients1.  The results showed that patients with an average of over 9 medication failures have a 50% chance of having complete remission of symptoms and an over 60% chance for significant improvements in symptoms. Dr. Ferguson commented that Dr. Pitch’s results are consistent with her experience, and that TMS is often a better option than trying yet another medication.  

About the Ferguson-Pitch Hope Tree TMS Center

Dr. Richard Pitch and Dr. Rena Ferguson are leaders in the field of TMS on Long Island.  They are acknowledged experts by their peers in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mental health illnesses. Call 631-509-6111 to reach the center or visit www.hopetreetms.com to learn more.

More about TMS Therapy

TMS Therapy or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a breakthrough treatment for depression in which an MRI-strength magnetic field stimulated activity in specific areas of the brain affected by depression. It is performed in an outpatient setting under the guidance of physicians. Over 60% of patients have had significant improvement in their depression and over half have had complete remission1. Side effects are very mild.  Some patients experience scalp discomfort during the stimulation or occasional headaches afterward during the first week or two.  The typical initial treatment course consists of 5 treatments per week over a 4-6 week period, for an average of 30 total treatments. Each treatment session lasts between 20-40 minutes.

Benefits of TMS Therapy

·       Non-invasive, meaning that it does not involve surgery. It does not require any anesthesia or sedation. The patient remains awake and alert during the treatment, and can drive and resume usual activities immediately after each session.

·       Non-systemic, meaning that it is not taken by mouth and does not circulate in the blood stream or throughout the body. TMS does not have side effects commonly seen with medications such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, tiredness, or nausea.

When Can Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Help? 

·       If antidepressants are inadequate to provide FULL relief of symptoms.

·       If medications are causing unwanted side effects limiting quality of life, such as sexual dysfunction, weight gain, dry mouth, sleepiness, emotional flatness or difficulty thinking.

·       If a patient is pregnant or nursing and cannot take medications.

·       If a patient takes other medications that conflict with antidepressants.

·       If medications interactions are a concern.

Website: www.hopetreetms.com

 Phone: 631-509-6111

 Media Contact: Greg Toso or Samantha Cole

Ferguson & Pitch Hope Tree TMS Center

631-509-6111

[email protected]