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# Sandhya Prashad, MD: Treatment-Resistant Depression Specialist

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## Posts
- [OCD That Won’t Respond to Medication in Houston — What Your Options Actually Look Like](https://sprashadmd.com/ocd-medication-resistant-treatment-options/): If OCD has not responded adequately to medication or ERP therapy, learn about OCD-specific Deep TMS and comprehensive evaluation at our Bellaire clinic.
- [Depression and Sleep Disruption in Houston — Breaking the Cycle That Keeps You Stuck](https://sprashadmd.com/depression-sleep-disruption-break-the-cycle/): Depression and sleep problems can reinforce each other. Learn how comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and advanced depression care may help at our Bellaire clinic.
- [PTSD in Houston TX — Why Talk Therapy Alone Isn’t Always Enough](https://sprashadmd.com/ptsd-treatment-beyond-talk-therapy-options/): PTSD symptoms that persist despite therapy may warrant a comprehensive evaluation. Learn about treatment planning and coexisting depression care in Bellaire.
- [ADHD in Houston TX — When Stimulants Aren’t the Full Answer](https://sprashadmd.com/adhd-treatment-when-stimulants-not-enough/): ADHD in Houston that stimulants haven't fully resolved? Learn about complex ADHD presentations and advanced psychiatric evaluation at our Bellaire TX clinic.
- [Living With Bipolar II in Houston — Why Diagnosis Takes So Long and Treatment Is Harder](https://sprashadmd.com/bipolar-ii-disorder-houston-tx-diagnosis-treatment/): Bipolar II is often misdiagnosed as depression in Houston. Learn why it takes years to diagnose and what treatment options we offer in Bellaire TX.
- [Treatment-Resistant Depression in Houston — Why Standard Care Falls Short and What to Try Next](https://sprashadmd.com/treatment-resistant-depression-next-steps/): Living with treatment-resistant depression in Houston? Learn why standard care may fall short and what advanced options may be available at our Bellaire clinic.
- [What to Expect From IV Ketamine Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-treatment-resistant-depression-houston-tx/): Learn what IV ketamine therapy involves for treatment-resistant depression at Dr. Sandhya Prashad's Bellaire TX practice. Results vary by individual.
- [Understanding Deep TMS for Depression: A Houston Psychiatrist’s Guide to FDA-Cleared Brain Stimulation](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-depression-bellaire-tx-psychiatrist/): Deep TMS is FDA-cleared for depression. Learn how it works at Dr. Prashad's Bellaire TX psychiatric practice. Results vary by individual.
- [SPRAVATO® for Treatment-Resistant Depression: What Houston Patients Need to Know](https://sprashadmd.com/spravato-treatment-resistant-depression-bellaire-tx/): Understand how SPRAVATO® works for treatment-resistant depression at Dr. Prashad's Bellaire TX clinic. FDA-approved. Results vary by individual.
- [Deep TMS for OCD: How FDA-Cleared Brain Stimulation Is Changing Care in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-ocd-treatment-houston-bellaire-tx/): Deep TMS is FDA-cleared for OCD treatment. Dr. Sandhya Prashad offers Deep TMS in Bellaire TX. Learn how it works. Results vary by individual.
- [Combining Ketamine and Deep TMS: A Multi-Modal Approach to Treatment-Resistant Depression in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-deep-tms-combo-treatment-houston-tx/): Dr. Sandhya Prashad offers combined ketamine and Deep TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression in Bellaire TX. Results vary by individual.
- [Ketamine Therapy for PTSD: What Patients in the Houston Area Should Know](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-therapy-ptsd-houston-bellaire-tx/): Learn how IV ketamine is used for PTSD treatment at Dr. Prashad's Bellaire TX practice. Off-label use, results vary. Discuss with your provider.
- [When IV Ketamine Works (And When It Doesn’t)](https://sprashadmd.com/iv-ketamine-treatment-resistant-depression-houston/): IV ketamine helps 70–80% of patients with treatment-resistant depression. Houston Center explains candidacy, what affects response, and next steps.
- [Sleep Problems and Depression: Breaking the Cycle](https://sprashadmd.com/sleep-problems-depression-houston-tx/): Sleep disruption and depression reinforce each other in a well-documented cycle. Houston Center explains the connection and when advanced care may help.
- [Understanding Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 Disorder](https://sprashadmd.com/bipolar-1-bipolar-2-disorder-houston-tx/): Bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed. Houston Center in Houston TX explains Bipolar 1 vs Bipolar 2 and what treatment may help. Call 832-436-4055.
- [The Ketamine Therapy Timeline No One Talks About](https://sprashadmd.com/iv-ketamine-therapy-timeline-houston/): What does IV ketamine therapy look like week by week? Houston Center for Advanced Psychiatric Treatment explains the real timeline. Call 832-436-4055.
- [TMS Treatment for ADHD: Emerging Applications](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-treatment-adhd-houston-tx-emerging/): TMS for ADHD is an emerging off-label option. Houston Center explains the evidence, what to expect, and whether you're a candidate. Call 832-436-4055.
- [How SPRAVATO® Works for Treatment-Resistant Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/how-spravato-works-treatment-resistant-depression/): SPRAVATO® is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and covered by most major insurers. Houston Center explains how it works. Call 832-436-4055.
- [Finding Deep TMS in Houston: Access, Availability, and What to Expect](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-houston-tx-access-what-to-expect/): Looking for Deep TMS in Houston? Houston Center for Advanced Psychiatric Treatment offers FDA-cleared Deep TMS for depression. Call 832-436-4055.
- [Deep TMS for Treatment-Resistant Depression: When Standard TMS Hasn’t Worked](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-treatment-resistant-depression-houston/): Standard TMS not enough? Houston Center for Advanced Psychiatric Treatment offers Deep TMS for treatment-resistant depression. Call 832-436-4055.
- [Accelerated TMS Protocols: Faster Relief for Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/accelerated-tms-protocols-depression-houston/): Standard TMS takes weeks. Houston Center's accelerated TMS protocols — including ONE-D — may compress treatment into days or one day. Call 832-436-4055.
- [Holiday Treatment Planning: How to Access Deep TMS and Ketamine Therapy During December in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/houston-holiday-depression-treatment-december/): Accessing Deep TMS and ketamine therapy during December in Houston requires strategic planning but is absolutely achievable for patients who need rapid depression relief during the holiday season. Both treatments offer scheduling flexibility that accommodates family obligations, travel plans, and work commitments while providing the intensive care needed for treatment-resistant depression. The key is starting the evaluation and authorization process early enough to begin treatment at your optimal timing, whether that's immediately after Thanksgiving or in early December to maximize benefits during typically challenging holiday weeks.
- [Starting TMS Therapy Before the Holidays: Treatment Scheduling and Insurance Coverage for Houston Patients](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-therapy-houston-holidays-insurance-scheduling/): Starting TMS therapy before the holidays is not only possible but often ideal for Houston residents whose depression symptoms worsen during winter months. The standard treatment protocol involves 20 sessions over 4 weeks, followed by maintenance treatments as needed, making November the perfect time to begin treatment that will provide maximum benefit during typically challenging December and January periods. Most major Houston-area insurers now provide coverage for TMS therapy when clinical criteria are met, and many practices offer flexible scheduling to accommodate holiday travel and family obligations.
- [Rapid-Acting Depression Treatments for the Holiday Season: Understanding TMS, Ketamine, and SPRAVATO® Options in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/depression-treatment-houston-tms-ketamine-spravato/): When holiday depression hits hard and traditional antidepressants aren't providing adequate relief, Houston residents now have access to three FDA-approved rapid-acting treatments that can provide meaningful improvement within days or weeks rather than months. Deep TMS, IV ketamine therapy, and SPRAVATO® (esketamine) each work through different brain mechanisms, offering hope for people whose depression intensifies during winter months despite ongoing medication treatment.
- [Deep TMS for Holiday Depression: How Magnetic Brain Stimulation Can Provide Rapid Relief When Medications Aren’t Enough](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-houston-holiday-depression-treatment/): Deep TMS (Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) represents a breakthrough approach for Houston residents whose holiday depression overwhelms traditional antidepressant effectiveness. Unlike medication that works systemically throughout your body, Deep TMS uses targeted magnetic fields to stimulate specific brain regions responsible for mood regulation, often providing relief within 2-3 weeks rather than the 6-12 weeks typically required for medication adjustments. This precision targeting makes it particularly valuable during the compressed timeframe of holiday depression, when waiting months for medication changes isn't practical.
- [Holiday Depression vs. Medication Failure: Why Some Houstonians Need More Than Traditional Antidepressants During Winter](https://sprashadmd.com/holiday-depression-houston-beyond-antidepressants/): Holiday depression and medication failure often get confused, but they're actually two distinct challenges that can compound each other during Houston's winter months. True holiday depression stems from seasonal stressors like family dynamics, financial pressure, and social obligations, while medication failure occurs when previously effective antidepressants lose their effectiveness against changing brain chemistry. Understanding this difference is crucial for Houston residents who find themselves struggling despite maintaining their prescribed treatment regimen.
- [When Antidepressants Stop Working During the Holidays: Understanding Treatment-Resistant Winter Depression in Houston](https://sprashadmd.com/treatment-resistant-depression-houston-holidays/): The harsh reality hits differently during the holidays. Your antidepressant that worked all year suddenly feels useless against the weight of seasonal depression, family stress, and year-end pressures. You're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone. Treatment-resistant depression affects up to 30% of people with major depression, and winter months can push even stable medications to their breaking point (Ionescu et al., 2012).
- [What Is The Difference Between Bipolar 1 & 2?](https://sprashadmd.com/what-is-the-difference-between-bipolar-1-2/): Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by intense mood swings, ranging from extreme highs, known as manic episodes, to severe lows, known as depressive episodes. While bipolar disorder as a whole is well-known, there are different types of bipolar disorder that individuals can experience. In this article, we will delve into the differences between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2, two commonly diagnosed subtypes of the disorder.
- [Do Depression Rates Rise During The Holidays?](https://sprashadmd.com/do-depression-rates-rise-during-the-holidays/): The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy and celebration. However, for many individuals, it can also be a period of increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. In this article, we will explore the question: do depression rates rise during the holidays?
- [Can Depression Be Caused by a Lack of Sleep?](https://sprashadmd.com/can-depression-be-caused-by-a-lack-of-sleep/): Many people struggle with depression, a complex mental health condition that affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. While there are various factors that contribute to the development of depression, one potential cause that has gained significant attention is sleep deprivation. Understanding the relationship between sleep and depression is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
- [How Common is Ketamine Therapy in Houston, Texas?](https://sprashadmd.com/how-common-is-ketamine-therapy-in-houston-texas/): Ketamine therapy is a novel treatment option for various mental health conditions, and its prevalence has been steadily increasing in recent years. Understanding the science behind ketamine therapy and its therapeutic uses can shed light on its popularity among individuals seeking alternative treatment options for their mental health concerns. This article explores the prevalence, legal status, and future prospects of ketamine therapy in Houston, Texas.
- [Anxiety Nausea: Why It Happens and How to Stop It](https://sprashadmd.com/anxiety-nausea-why-it-happens-and-how-to-stop-it/): Anxiety nausea can be a distressing symptom that many individuals experience when they are feeling anxious or stressed. The connection between anxiety and nausea is well-established, and understanding the physiological and psychological mechanisms behind it can help us find ways to alleviate this uncomfortable sensation.
- [Sanacora, Wilkinson Receive $12.6M in Funding for Ketamine Study](https://sprashadmd.com/sanacora-wilkinson-receive-12-6m-in-funding-for-ketamine-study/): Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, and Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, have received $12.6 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for the study, “Comparative Effectiveness of Racemic Ketamine versus S-Ketamine (Spravato) for Depression.”
- [PTSD & Insomnia](https://sprashadmd.com/ptsd-insomnia/): PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is a common condition, affecting millions of people worldwide.
- [The FDA approves the first pill specifically intended to treat postpartum depression](https://sprashadmd.com/the-fda-approves-the-first-pill-specifically-intended-to-treat-postpartum-depression/): Federal health officials have approved the first pill specifically intended to treat severe depression after childbirth, a condition that affects thousands of new mothers in the U.S. each year.
- [What Does Spravato Feel Like?](https://sprashadmd.com/what-does-spravato-feel-like/):  Spravato is a prescription drug used to treat:
- [TMS For Treatment-Resistant Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-for-treatment-resistant-depression/): 40% of males and 20% of females use talk therapy or antidepressants to deal with depression. However, there are five classes of antidepressants, and among those over seventy options, finding the right fit can take months, and each pill has the potential to both not work and come with unwanted side effects. Roughly one-third of all patients that seek treatment for depression find no relief with these more standard treatments. 
- [Who should try ketamine therapy? What does it feel like?](https://sprashadmd.com/who-should-try-ketamine-therapy-what-does-it-feel-like/): Ketamine is an anesthetic used to sedate both humans and pets, and it’s a favorite of partygoers seeking a psychedelic high. Now it’s also the subject of an enormous amount of interest as a fast-acting treatment for depression and other serious mental health conditions.
- [Why Don’t Men Talk About Their Mental Health?](https://sprashadmd.com/why-dont-men-talk-about-their-mental-health/): Mental health is an integral part of overall wellness and well-being. It’s estimated that 1 in 5 American adults experiences a mental health disorder in any given year. 
- [How Common Are Postpartum Mental Health Disorders?](https://sprashadmd.com/how-common-are-postpartum-mental-health-disorders/): One in 7 women will experience some form of postpartum mental health issue — also known as the “baby blues” — within the first year after giving birth. These issues that arise are known as postpartum mental health disorders (PMHD). 
- [What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?](https://sprashadmd.com/what-is-ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy/): Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a relatively new treatment that is gaining in popularity. This type of therapy involves ketamine, a drug that has been used for decades but only recently have we started to unlock its secrets to treat depression and other mental health conditions.
- [IV Vitamin Therapy and Mental Health](https://sprashadmd.com/iv-vitamin-therapy-and-mental-health/): With so many individuals suffering from mental health issues, often in silence or without the proper support, it’s no wonder that people are searching for ways to improve their mental health. If medication and psychotherapy haven’t been helpful for you, or if you are looking for something to use in conjunction with these methods, IV vitamin therapy has proven effective against mental illness symptoms. 
- [BrainsWay Announces Publication of Results Demonstrating Efficacy of Deep TMS™ in Treating Anxiety Symptoms Comorbid to Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/brainsway-announces-publication-of-results-demonstrating-efficacy-of-deep-tms-in-treating-anxiety-symptoms-comorbid-to-depression/): Results Distinguish Deep TMS as More Effective in Subjects with Higher Anxiety Symptoms, Long Considered Less Responsive to Alternative Treatments
- [The COVID-19 Pandemic: Helping Those Who Suffer in Silence](https://sprashadmd.com/the-covid-19-pandemic-helping-those-who-suffer-in-silence/): Sandhya Prashad, MD is the medical director at Houston Ketamine Therapeutics and Houston Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy.
- [American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners Announces Standards of Practice in the Therapeutic Use of Subanesthetic Ketamine](https://sprashadmd.com/american-society-of-ketamine-physicians-psychotherapists-and-practitioners-announces-standards-of-practice-in-the-therapeutic-use-of-subanesthetic-ketamine/): BELLAIRE, Texas, Aug. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketamine, which was originally developed as an anesthetic, has emerged over the last two decades as the biggest breakthrough in 50 years for treatment-resistant depression and suicidality. Despite a growing body of research surrounding its use, guidelines establishing recommendations for best practices have been limited. The American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners (ASKP3) is a group of professionals dedicated to the safe and clinical use of ketamine for mental health disorders and pain conditions that was developed in 2016 and has over 400 members of various specialties. ASKP3 recognizes the lack of formal guidance and seeks to protect and foster the use of subanesthetic ketamine by providing recommendations for standards of practice. 
- [SAINT and Depression: An Interview with CSO Owen Muir, MD](https://sprashadmd.com/saint-and-depression-an-interview-with-cso-owen-muir-md/): This past week the American Journal of Psychiatry published an exciting new study “Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression (SAINT),” which is highlighted in this recent piece in Inverse. We interviewed our Chief Services Officer and co-founder Owen Muir, MD, who was excited to explain how this treatment works, why it’s so important, and how it’s helping to treat depression.
- [High-Dose Brain Stim Promising for Tough-to-Treat Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/high-dose-brain-stim-promising-for-tough-to-treat-depression/): An accelerated, high-dose transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy significantly improved depression symptoms in a small, open-label study.
- [Nasal Spray Is A New Antidepressant Option For People At High Risk of Suicide](https://sprashadmd.com/nasal-spray-is-a-new-antidepressant-option-for-people-at-high-risk-of-suicide/): The Food and Drug Administration has approved a variant of the anesthetic and party drug ketamine for suicidal patients with major depression.
- [New Spravato FDA Approval Opens The Door to New Patients, Says Sandhya Prashad, M.D.](https://sprashadmd.com/new-spravato-fda-approval-opens-the-door-to-new-patients-says-sandhya-prashad-m-d/): A new indication of Janssen’s ketamine based-nasal spray Spravato (intranasal esketamine) has been approved for rapid reduction of depression symptoms in those with major depressive disorder who have imminent risk of suicidal ideation, according to Houston-based psychiatrist Sandhya Prashad.
- [New Treatment Relieves Depression in 90 Percent of Participants](https://sprashadmd.com/new-treatment-relieves-depression-in-90-percent-of-participants/): An option for people who don't see successful results from standard depression treatments like talk therapy or antidepressants is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Research shows that this non-invasive technique, which uses electromagnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, can fill the therapeutic void left when other treatments fail.
- [Five Things to Know About Esketamine](https://sprashadmd.com/five-things-to-know-about-esketamine/): In March 2019, intranasal esketamine—a form of ketamine marketed as SPRAVATO™ CIII Nasal Spray*—was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). James Murrough, MD, PhD, Director of Mount Sinai’s Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment, was deeply involved in the research that led to esketamine’s FDA approval. In November 2019, he launched a TRD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, featuring esketamine as a treatment option. Below, Dr. Murrough breaks down the top five things to know about esketamine based on his experience over the past decade.
- [4 Things We Now Know About Treatment-Resistant Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/4-things-we-now-know-about-treatment-resistant-depression/): For many people coping with major depressive disorder—which includes different types of depression that persist for at least two weeks—antidepressants can play an invaluable role in helping relieve symptoms, enabling them to resume the life they once enjoyed. But for those who experience a form known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD), standard medications tend to provide little to no relief.
- [Ketamine Therapy Essential Service During COVID-19 Pandemic](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-therapy-essential-service-during-covid-19-pandemic/): It goes without saying that COVID-19 is on the minds of nearly every American. The societal and economic disruption is almost without precedent. As government officials and clinicians wrestle with issues of how to protect the public, there seem to be more questions than answers. The mental health effects of COVID-19 are as important to address as are the physical health effects. Social isolation, school closures, lack of structure, financial difficulties, and unemployment are among the many stressors related to COVID-19 that have significant impacts on mental well-being.
- [COVID-19 What We’re Doing to Help Our Patients During This Time](https://sprashadmd.com/covid-19-what-were-doing-to-help-our-patients-during-this-time/): As the concern for the coronavirus continues to grow, we want to do our part to inform our patients on what we are doing to help keep you safe and provide continued treatment options during this time.
- [What Causes Depression?](https://sprashadmd.com/what-causes-depression/): Over the course of the past 100 years, our understanding of depression has greatly expanded, as has the number of therapeutic options available to deal with it. One thing researchers have learned in the past century is that, in the vast majority of cases, there is no one single cause for depression. Instead, an array of risk factors typically play into the development of a person’s depressive mood. And those risk factors are often different from person to person. Below we’re going to take a close look at what causes depression and what can be done about it.
- [What Causes Anxiety?](https://sprashadmd.com/what-causes-anxiety/): Everyone experiences some degree of anxiety from time to time. It’s coded into our DNA as part of the ‘fight or flight’ self-defense mechanism. In that context, anxiety produces a heightened state of awareness to potential threats and is a precursor to either standing and defending oneself (fight) or fleeing (flight). But for some people that heightened state of awareness can morph into an almost constant state of worry. Or an exaggerated sense of dread when faced with even the most mundane of threats or conditions. But what causes anxiety?
- [Ketamine May Treat Harmful Drinking Behavior by Rewriting Drinking Memories](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-may-treat-harmful-drinking-behavior-by-rewriting-drinking-memories/): A single dose of ketamine may be able to curb harmful drinking behavior by "rewriting drinking memories," according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
- [The Complete Guide to Ketamine Therapy for Depression, From Someone Who’s Tried It](https://sprashadmd.com/the-complete-guide-to-ketamine-therapy-for-depression-from-someone-whos-tried-it/): When I entered the ketamine clinic for the first time, I started crying almost immediately. This was for two reasons: First and foremost, I was scared. After watching a documentary that introduced me to the subject and reading several accounts of ketamine infusion therapy, I knew a fair amount about the process. But the experience sounded strange, disorienting, and mysterious. Despite having done my research, I still didn’t feel like I had a good idea of exactly what it would feel like.
- [‘Deep’ TMS Beats Standard TMS, Meds for Severe Depression](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-beats-standard-tms-meds-for-severe-depression/): "Deep" repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) plus standard antidepressant medication is significantly more effective at reducing depression levels in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) than standard rTMS or stand-alone pharmacotherapy, new research suggests.
- [How Psychedelic Substances Can Help Treat Anxiety, Depression And Other Mental Illnesses](https://sprashadmd.com/how-psychedelic-substances-can-help-treat-anxiety-depression-and-other-mental-illnesses/): The world of psychedelic research is expanding. Johns Hopkins University has launched a center for psychedelic research with $17 million in donations solely from private donors, the first of its kind in the U.S.
- [When medication fails, this helmet can treat depression](https://sprashadmd.com/when-medication-fails-this-helmet-can-treat-depression/): Julie Travis is one of the more than 15 million Americans who struggle with clinical depression. For years, she was able to manage it with medication, but recently that wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon, said Dr. Amita Talati, a psychiatrist in Voorhees, New Jersey who has been treating patients with depression for more than 20 years, including Travis. “At some point, medications may not work for a lot of patients,” she said. She sees more and more patients becoming resistant.
- [Dr. Sandhya Prashad, M.D., tells how this new drug might save lives](https://sprashadmd.com/houston-based-depression-psychiatrist-dr-sandhya-prashad-m-d-tells-how-this-new-drug-might-save-lives-and-cost-less-than-expected/): HOUSTON, March 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "New FDA approved depression treatment, esketamine, is the biggest advancement in depression treatment in thirty years" – says Houston based Psychiatrist, Dr. Sandhya Prashad. This approval allows ketamine treatments to be more widely available and will likely be covered by various insurance providers for patients who have failed previous treatments.

## Pages
- [Ketamine + Deep TMS](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-and-deep-tms/): Fast. Focused. Life‑changing.
- [Clinical Trials](https://sprashadmd.com/clinical-trials/): She has coordinated two PCORI-funded clinical trials with Yale University: Equivalence, a randomized non-inferiority trial comparing Racemic Ketamine and Esketamine, and Observe, a follow-up outcomes study. In addition, she has coordinated a National Institute of Mental Health funded trial with Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Pittsburgh on enhancing the durability of ketamine’s antidepressant effects. Her responsibilities span patient recruitment, data collection, regulatory compliance, and sponsor communications, ensuring adherence to GCP, FDA, and IRB standards.
- [Modified Accelerated Theta Burst (MATB) Therapy](https://sprashadmd.com/modified-accelerated-theta-burst-therapy/): Modified Accelerated Theta Burst may be an option if you:
- [One-Day Depression Treatment](https://sprashadmd.com/one-day-depression-treatment/): Fast. Focused. Life‑changing.
- [Depression Treatment in Houston, TX](https://sprashadmd.com/depression-treatment-in-houston-tx/): Home
- [Spravato® Treatment in Houston, TX](https://sprashadmd.com/spravato-treatment-houston-tx/): Looking for Esketamine in Houston? SPRAVATO™ a newely approved FDA treatment for depression is now available. Learn more about this new treatment alternative.
- [TMS Therapy in Houston, TX](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-therapy-houston/): Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is an innovative, non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate targeted brain areas. FDA-approved, it is primarily designed for individuals with depression and other mental health conditions who haven’t experienced relief from traditional therapies, such as medications or talk therapy.
- [TMS Therapy](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-therapy-in-houston-tx/): Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is an innovative, non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate targeted brain areas. FDA-approved, it is primarily designed for individuals with depression and other mental health conditions who haven’t experienced relief from traditional therapies, such as medications or talk therapy.
- [Acceptable Use Policy](https://sprashadmd.com/acceptable-use-policy/): Home
- [Smoking Cessation TMS](https://sprashadmd.com/smoking-cessation-tms/): Smoking Cessation TMS is a new and innovative treatment for cigarette smoking addiction recently approved by the FDA. TMS therapy stimulates areas of the brain associated with addiction, the bilateral insula and prefrontal cortex, to reduce tobacco cravings and increase impulse control. BrainsWay has uniquely designed a magnetic coil to fit in a padded helmet to deliver electromagnetic waves at a deeper and broader rate for smoking cessation, known as the H4 helmet. The H4 helmet is the only coil approved by the FDA to treat smoking addiction. Smoking Cessation TMS is safe and effective, inducing minimal side effects such as headaches.
- [Why Us?](https://sprashadmd.com/why-us/): Home View Our Short Brochure Below To Learn More About All Of Our Treatment Options Just click on the brochure below for a full-screen view
- [Ketamine + Deep TMS](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-deep-tms/): For some patients, the combination of IV ketamine with deep TMS may be especially useful. Deep TMS is a drug-free, non-invasive,  FDA approved innovative approach to treating treatment-resistant depression. It is also a very useful treatment for anxiety with long-lasting benefits. This combination often leads to longer-lasting effects from ketamine. Dr. Prashad can determine if you are a good candidate for this combination during a consultation. The cost of the ketamine infusions are discounted when patients are undergoing the combination treatment.
- [What to Expect for TMS Treatment](https://sprashadmd.com/what-to-expect-for-tms-treatment/): Your first appointment will be longer than the rest of your appointments because your brain will first be mapped to find the treatment location. You will be provided earplugs to protect hearing during all TMS treatments. If using the BrainsWay machine, the technician will then place a blue cap on your head, then place some rulers or a grid on top. The technician will maneuver the coils around the head, observing the twitches in your hand and locating the strongest response. Once the location is found, your Motor Threshold (MT) will be discovered to find out how much power we can safely to deliver to stimulate your hand and neurons.
- [ADD & ADHD dTMS](https://sprashadmd.com/add-and-adhd-dtms/): Attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity, is a disorder where a person holds various behavior problems such as struggling to stay focused or inattention, difficulty staying organized, impulsivity, and sometimes hyperactivity such as fidgeting or the inability to sit still for long periods of time. These disorders can lead to experiencing many different difficulties in the workplace, school, at home, with relationships and can increase the chance of developing depression. ADD and ADHD is often treated with stimulants and can cause side effects ranging from irritability, decreased appetite, sleep difficulties, dry mouth, and sometimes anxiety. TMS therapy for ADD & ADHD can be an alternative to traditional medications, inducing little to no side effects.
- [OCD dTMS](https://sprashadmd.com/ocd-dtms/): BrainsWay OCD therapy can significantly improve OCD symptoms, as was demonstrated in the positive results of the BrainsWay’s Deep TMS study, the only multicenter trial in OCD patients ever conducted. The multicenter study demonstrated that after six weeks of treatment, there was a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint results for the active treatment group when compared to sham (p=0.0127).
- [Anxiety cTBS](https://sprashadmd.com/anxiety-ctbs/): Home
- [Intensive TMS](https://sprashadmd.com/intensive-tms/): Intensive TMS is an innovative treatment that optimizes stimulation by delivering multiple Theta Burst treatments throughout the day, significantly shortening the treatment plan from several weeks to one week. Intensive TMS for Depression targets the same part of the brain as other depression protocols with a Figure 8 coil attached to a Brainsway machine, focalizing the treatment by using the newly added StimGuide neuronavigation system to increase accuracy. The Intensive TMS treatment package is based off a clinical study at Stanford University where about 90% of participants achieved remission and all had a resolution of Suicidal Ideation (SI) by the end of the week. This rapid protocol requires the participant to receive 10 Theta Burst (iTBS) treatments, with 1 hours breaks in-between, for 5 days, reaching remission after one week.
- [Accelerated Theta Burst (iTBS)](https://sprashadmd.com/theta-burst-itbs/): How it works: This protocol is based on the SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation) protocol where ten theta burst treatments are delivered per day over five days spaced an hour apart for a total of fifty TMS treatments. Each treatment is nine minutes. This protocol can also be modified to deliver less than ten treatments per day over 2-4 weeks if needed to better accommodate the patient’s schedule. Published data for similar protocols typically reports response rates higher than 90%.
- [Deep TMS (dTMS)](https://sprashadmd.com/deep-tms-dtms/): Deep TMS for Depression stimulates the left front part of the brain (Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex) with a deep coil, promoting neural connections that are usually lacking in depressed brains. The BrainsWay machine with a H1 helmet, or a deep coil, allows us to stimulate the depressed part of the brain at a deeper and broader rate to ensure the appropriate area is targeted. This coil can stimulate deep brain structures at up to 1.6 inches below the skull versus other coils that can only reach 0.6 inches below, which is almost 3 times deeper. Deep TMS is best paired with a medication and has shown to be more effective at reducing depressive symptoms with a 60% remission rate in a study published by the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The treatment length is about 36 treatments, spread out over several weeks, requiring 4-6 weeks of daily sessions. Deep TMS is FDA approved for the treatment of Depression and is accepted by most insurances. Anxiety, OCD and ADHD can also be treated with a deep coil.
- [TMS Therapy](https://sprashadmd.com/tms/): Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate targeted areas of the brain. This stimulation helps improve communication between neurons and can be particularly effective for patients who have not responded to multiple antidepressants or psychiatric medications. TMS is well-tolerated, with minimal side effects, making it a promising alternative for those seeking relief from various mental health conditions.
- [Therapy Services](https://sprashadmd.com/ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy/): Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy integrates the neurobiological benefits of ketamine with the structure and intentionality of psychotherapy. Unlike stand-alone ketamine infusions, KAP is an active, guided process that leverages ketamine’s ability to enhance neuroplasticity, decrease rigid thinking patterns, and temporarily lower psychological defenses. Many patients find it helpful for trauma processing.
- [Osmind](https://sprashadmd.com/osmind/): With the Osmind platform, we get you more money back by helping you with insurance claims. It helps us improve how you feel, makes your experience with our clinic better, and provides additional support for you.
- [MoodMonitor](https://sprashadmd.com/moodmonitor/): Dr. Prashad uses MoodMonitor– a secure, reliable, easy-to-use reporting and monitoring tool– that helps us ensure the best possible outcomes for our ketamine patients.
- [Provider Referral](https://sprashadmd.com/provider-referral/): Provider Referral Form for Ketamine Infusion Therapy
- [Request Consultation](https://sprashadmd.com/request-consultation/): Home
- [Patient Experience](https://sprashadmd.com/patient-experience/): The patient experience drives everything that we do. From the minute you walk into our practice you are greeted with a sense of ease and comfort. With a special interest in treatment-resistant disorders, Dr. Sandhya Prashad works closely with each patient, taking the time to understand their overall health and well-being so she can develop a truly customized treatment plan.
- [Resources](https://sprashadmd.com/resources/): Home
- [Media](https://sprashadmd.com/media/): Sandhya Prashad, MD is medical director at Houston Ketamine Therapeutics and Houston Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy.
- [Deep TMS](https://sprashadmd.com/tms-therapy-houston-ok/): Different TMS devices
- [IV Ketamine](https://sprashadmd.com/iv-ketamine-treatment-houston/): Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been used on both humans and animals for over 50 years. In the last decade, a great deal of clinical research has been conducted by leading institutions all over the world proving intravenous ketamine’s efficacy and safety in the treatment of major depression, bipolar depression, PTSD and severe anxiety as well as certain pain disorders. These studies regularly report a 70% success rate or higher. Yale University, The Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai Medical School, The National Institute of Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and The Black Dog Institute are just a few of those institutions who have conducted studies. Giving ketamine intravenously is the only method of administration that has been clinically proven to be effective and thus the only method currently used by Dr. Prashad. For some patients, ketamine infusion therapy is quite simply life changing and unlike any other treatment currently available given its rapid, robust effects and lack of side effects between treatments.
- [Testimonials](https://sprashadmd.com/testimonials/): Home
- [Blog](https://sprashadmd.com/news/)
- [Contact](https://sprashadmd.com/contact/): Dr. Prashad has extensive experience with treatment-resistant depression and is one of the most experienced ketamine psychiatrists in the country.
- [Services](https://sprashadmd.com/services/): Home What we offer for you Therapies & Treatments
- [About me](https://sprashadmd.com/about-me/): Sandhya Prashad, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in interventional modalities for treatment resistant disorders with a particular interest and expertise in ketamine therapy. She completed both medical school and psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine. She has been in private practice in the Houston area since 2011 and has been utilizing intravenous ketamine since 2016. She has personally administered over 9,000 treatments with ketamine or esketamine. She is the founder and medical director of Sandhya J. Prashad, MD, Houston Ketamine Therapeutics, and Houston TMS Therapeutics. Dr. Prashad is involved on an international level with furthering awareness and education regarding the safe and effective use of ketamine. She is a founder, the former secretary and the current president of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners (ASKP3, www.ASKP.org) Dr. Prashad presents frequently on a national level both to the public and to other physicians regarding the use of ketamine for psychiatric disorders. She also serves on several advisory panels for ketamine related research. She is also a faculty member of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute where she assisted in developing the curriculum for the ketamine medical provider training. She also actively lectures and mentors others through the program, which was designed to establish the gold standard in ketamine competency for healthcare providers.
- [Home](https://sprashadmd.com/): Innovative Treatments for Rapid Relief