It is estimated that 5% of adults in the world have depression. This condition can heavily impact your ability to cope on a daily basis. While there are multiple treatments available for depression – therapy and antidepressants being the most commonly known – they may not be effective for everyone. This is where treatments like repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) comes in.
But what exactly is rTMS? How can it make a difference to your mental health? Here, we explain everything you need to know.
Understanding how rTMS works
rTMS is a state-of-the-art treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the parts of the brain which affect our mood. During an rTMS session, a magnetic coil is placed against the scalp. This delivers magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted regions of the brain which regulate mood. This stimulation normalises brain activity and alleviates the symptoms of depression.
You may be surprised to know that this treatment is a non-invasive procedure, which means that there are no cuts or surgeries involved. It is a painless approach that doesn’t involve the use of anaesthesia, making it a comfortable experience. Doctors, medical practitioners and mental health clinics consider rTMS a reliable way to treat depression.
The advantages of rTMS
If you are on the fence about rTMS, here are some of the benefits of this procedure:
Non-invasive: As discussed above, rTMS is a painless treatment that does not require any surgery, incisions or anaesthesia.
Minimal side effects: rTMS has minimal side effects when compared to more conventional treatments like antidepressants. Side effects of antidepressants include but are not limited to loss of libido, weight gain, agitation, and nausea.
Does not interact with other medications: rTMS does not interact with other medications, making for a safe and versatile alternative to antidepressants.
High success rates: Research has shown rTMS to be a highly effective treatment for depression. High numbers of patients report relief from symptoms of depression. Some mental health clinics report remission rates of as high as 61%.
Potential for long-term recovery: rTMS has shown to provide sustained relief from depression for up to 5 months and with further technological advancements, and top-up sessions, this will only improve with time.
It is important to note that these benefits may vary between individuals.
Please note: rTMS is a time-intensive treatment that requires specialist knowledge and is only available in very limited locations on the NHS. Most patients need to be treated at a private clinic.
Do I have depression?
Living with depression can bring its own set of challenges – which can affect your daily life and relationships negatively. You may have depression if you display any of the following symptoms:
- You’ve been feeling low for more than two weeks
- You feel like you don’t get any joy from life
- Your sleep patterns have changed (either you sleep too much or too little)
- You’ve noticed symptoms of anxiety
- You feel distant and withdrawn
- You find it hard to focus
- Your memory isn’t as good as it should be
- You feel a sense of hopelessness
If you have any combination of these symptoms, it may be time to speak to your GP or healthcare provider to get some support. You don’t need to feel like this.
Improving your mental health
Good mental health can result in a better overall wellbeing and rTMS gives you the opportunity to do just that. With minimal side effects and great results, rTMS becomes a good choice for someone seeking treatment for depression. If you are suffering from depression, please rest assured that help is available and you are not alone in this.
