Benefits of TMS therapy
What is TMS?
rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a proven treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Using magnetic pulses, specific areas of the brain are stimulated to improve communication between them. This helps reduce symptoms of depression and OCD.
Benefits TMS therapy
TMS therapy is a neuromodulation technique that targets imbalanced areas of the brain, without the need for surgery or invasive procedures. TMS helps restore balance in the brain, with long-lasting effects that continue even after treatment ends. In contrast, the effects of antidepressants stop when you stop taking them.
By addressing the imbalance in the brain, you experience more mental clarity. Negative feelings give way to a greater sense of happiness and positive energy. Unlike antidepressants, rTMS has no side effects. After a session, you may temporarily experience a mild headache, which usually disappears within a few days.
TMS and talk therapy
Everyone is unique. So are the mental health challenges you face. At our clinic, we don’t just look at symptoms; we focus on the person behind them. Whether you’re dealing with treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or both, we believe in a treatment plan that’s fully tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.
Our integrative approach combines rTMS with talk therapy, so you receive both the physical and emotional support you deserve.
When TMS therapy is effective, it can reduce depressive symptoms, making talk therapy more impactful. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help you develop tools and strategies to manage negative thoughts. With symptom relief from rTMS, you’re in a stronger mental state to absorb these techniques and apply them effectively. This makes positive change more sustainable, helping you build your recovery. Step by step.
Alternative for ECT and antidepressants
rTMS is a safe alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Unlike ECT, which affects the entire brain, rTMS targets specific brain regions. This makes the treatment more precise and less invasive, with a lower risk of unwanted side effects and a strong potential for positive outcomes.
When choosing between TMS therapy and medication, factors such as your medical history, the severity of your symptoms, and personal preferences play an important role. While medication affects the whole body, rTMS works directly on the brain. In many cases, rTMS can help reduce or even eliminate the need for medication. It offers an effective treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, without the common side effects often associated with medication.
How TMS works
Neuromodulation
rTMS promotes neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain’s ability to change and adapt. This can increase treatment effectiveness by making the brain more receptive to new patterns of thought and behavior. By stimulating specific brain regions, the treatment helps reduce negative thoughts and emotions and restores balance in brain activity.
The effect of the treatment
By stimulating specific areas of the brain, the treatment helps reduce negative thoughts and emotions while restoring balance in brain activity. For many clients, this leads to a significant reduction in symptoms, with improvements in mood, concentration, and cognitive function. The effects of rTMS can be long-lasting, bringing lasting improvements in both emotional well-being and daily functioning. rTMS offers a non-invasive and effective approach that can greatly enhance quality of life for many individuals.
Strong results, gentle approach
rTMS targets your brain directly. It leads to neurological changes that actively influence depressive symptoms. An rTMS treatment improves disrupted communication between brain regions, helping to reduce symptoms. This doesn’t mean the depression is permanently cured, but in case of a relapse, a maintenance session or rTMS boost often leads to positive results.
The treatment requires a time investment, but has few side effects. Most side effects, such as scalp discomfort during stimulation or mild headaches, are generally well tolerated and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
When is rTMS not the right option?
rTMS is appropriate for individuals suffering from mild to severe depression, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder (such as winter or spring depression), and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, the treatment is not effective for individuals with psychotic depression (including delusions or hallucinations). Additionally, rTMS is not suitable for individuals who have undergone brain surgery (e.g., cochlear implants) or who have epilepsy.
Important:
If epilepsy is a possibility, rTMS International requires a (Q)EEG scan during the pre-treatment phase.
Examples of such situations include:
- A direct family member (grandparent, parent, sibling) has epilepsy.
- You were adopted and don’t know if epilepsy is present in your biological family.
- There are possible signs of epilepsy, but this has not been formally diagnosed or ruled out.
You can request a referral from your general practitioner for a (Q)EEG scan at a hospital. Once the results and report are submitted to us, your treatment application with rTMS International can proceed.
Contraindications include:
- History of seizures
- Psychotic depression
- Brain damage due to illness or injury, such as a brain tumor, stroke, or traumatic brain injury
- Metal or implanted medical devices in the body
Due to the magnetic field generated during rTMS, the treatment is not recommended for individuals with the following:
- Cochlear implants
- Electrodes used for monitoring brain activity
- Implanted stimulators
- Implanted vagus nerve or deep brain stimulators
- Implanted electrical devices such as pacemakers or medication pumps
- Stents
- Aneurysm clips or coils
What happens during an rTMS treatment?
How does rTMS work?
During the treatment, a coil is placed at an angle on the head. This coil is connected to a device that converts electrical current into magnetic pulses. These pulses can reach up to 3 cm deep into the brain through the skull. The pulses stimulate a specific area of the brain, influencing a broader neural network. This stimulation either activates or inhibits brain activity in targeted regions.
For the best possible outcome, we recommend combining rTMS with talk therapy. In some cases, medication can be gradually reduced during the treatment process. A full treatment program at rTMS International consists of 30 to 50 sessions to achieve long-term positive results. Many of our clients experience significant symptom relief and/or recovery after 20 to 30 sessions.
Frequently asked
If you’re dealing with treatment-resistant depression and wish to qualify for full reimbursement, a referral from your GP or psychiatrist is required.
However, if you prefer to receive treatment anonymously without your GP or health insurer being informed of your condition, no referral is needed. In that case, too, the condition must be a treatment-resistant depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
On the contact page, below the contact form, you can find the current waiting list for each location.
rTMs is a technique that was introduced in the late 1990s as a treatment for depression. Since then, scientific and clinical research has been conducted to determine the safety of the treatment and to investigate the most effective protocols. It has been established that rTMS is a safe method that, for a large proportion of clients, contributes to the reduction of depression and / or compulsive complaints. Various publications show that clients with the “therapy resistant” diagnosis responded positively to treatment with rTMS. rTMS has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) since 2008 and since 2017 a number of Dutch health insurance companies have reimbursed treatment under the supplementary insurance.
rTMS treatment is generally well tolerated and has few to no side effects. You will sit in the treatment chair, and the coil that delivers the magnetic pulses will be placed against your head. These magnetic pulses stimulate specific areas of the brain. Some people may experience mild tension headaches after the session. To prevent this, you may choose to take a paracetamol beforehand.