Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. rTMS is typically used when other depression treatments haven’t been effective.

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During a rTMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp near the forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression. The pulsating magnetic field is able to penetrate through the skull and can be heard as a tapping sound in the coil. You can feel these pulses but they are not painful. The feeling is much like if you were to tap a pencil.

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It may activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity in people with depression. NeuroHealth Solutions clinic combine classic psychotherapy with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), restoring network-connectivity in the brain.

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Research has shown that depression is linked to disrupted communication in a specific network of brain structures including the frontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)) and the deeper anterior cingulate (sgACC). rTMS focuses specifically on the DLPFC and indirectly stimulates the sgACC transsynaptically, as demonstrated in previous research on NCG-TMS 2). Psychotherapy is understood to also activate the deeper sgACC in this network (among other areas) more directly. It is therefore seen that concurrent application of these techniques then activates a larger part of a malfunctioning ‘depression network’, with higher clinical efficacy.

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Patients and Clients with the following conditions would be excluded from rTMS

• Patients pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant.

• Patients with any metal or implanted medical devices in your body.

• A history of seizures or a family history of epilepsy.

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Common side effects

Side effects are generally mild to moderate and improve shortly after an individual session and decrease over time with additional sessions. They may include:

• Headache

• Scalp discomfort at the site of stimulation

• Tingling, spasms or twitching of facial muscles

• Lightheadedness

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Please note that seizures from TMS has been found to be 1 in 3 million.