Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
What is rTMS?
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS or TMS) is a brain stimulation technique using the generation of brief magnetic fields via a coil placed over the scalp. These magnetic pulses generate an electrical current that briefly activates neurons at the site of stimulation. rTMS has been shown to be a safe and well-tolerated procedure that can be an effective treatment for adults with depression and other psychiatric conditions.
rTMS is a non-invasive medical procedure, approved by the College of Psychiatrists, for the treatment of a number of psychiatric conditions.
The duration of effects of rTMS treatment can vary from patient to patient. Some patients may have a lasting clinical improvement, others may experience short-term improvement and some patients may not experience any benefit. Patients who have short term improvement may benefit from repeat courses of treatment and/or maintenance treatment, i.e. ongoing treatments, spaced out, to maintain improvement.