Posts by Dr Kiira Tietjen
TMS for Teen Depression
the FDA approved TMS for teens as a first-line adjunct treatment.
Read MoreAntidepressants and Teens: Understanding the FDA Black Box Warning
What parents and teens need to know When a teen is struggling with depression, one of the treatment options may include an antidepressant, such as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). These medicines can be very effective, but many families have heard about the FDA “black box” warning related to suicide risk and feel understandably…
Read MoreTMS & Suicide Awareness: Grounded Hope This Month
September is Suicide Awareness Month—a time not only to honor the lives we’ve lost, but to reflect on prevention, healing, and evidence-based treatments that can make a difference. These conversations can be hard. They can also be life-saving. The Current Reality: Suicide in the U.S. and Washington The most recent data paint a sobering picture:…
Read MoreIs TMS the Same as Shock Therapy? (No, Here’s Why)
If you’ve ever heard of “shock therapy,” you might wonder if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is the same thing. The short answer: no, not at all. This confusion is common — even among healthcare providers. But understanding the difference matters, because mixing them up keeps people from accessing safe and effective treatment for depression. What…
Read MoreThe TMS Knowledge Gap
Last month alone: A therapist who’d never heard of TMS asking “What’s that?” when I mentioned it. A primary care provider who thought TMS was “some kind of shock therapy.” A psychiatrist who knew the name but believed it was “experimental.” A school counselor who said “We have kids failing everything after trying medications –…
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