The Camden New Journal has featured an article about the exciting potential for rTMS – repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation – for treating depression without using traditional medications.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of depression with a variety of further potential treatment applications. The treatment is available for private patients at Smart TMS who specialise on offering the innovative treatment at their London-based clinic.
Camden New Journal Feature on TMS Treatment
The article was entitled:
Revolutionary new depression treatment
‘Pulsating’ procedure could be big breakthrough for patients who cannot be helped by drugs
The feature explains that TMS therapy is approved by NICE, the NHS regulatory body, for treating depression in the UK. The treatment works using a special device on the scalp which creates pulsating magnetic energy to stimulate nerves in the brain.
The article explains that this magnetic tapping or pulsating works to strengthen circuits i teh brain in a similar way to how weight lifting strengthens muscles. New nerve cells build up in the prefrontal cortex which can lead to a lifting of depression.
Dr Mohamed Abdelghani, consultant psychiatrist at Camden and Islington NHS Trust, has been trained in the USA on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. He told the Camden New Journal:
“Treatment-resistant depression is one of the hardest conditions to treat, affecting one-third of service users who suffer with depression and blighting lives for many, many years.
“This is a revolutionary treatment which has been shown to increase recovery rates in patients who either cannot tolerate drug treatment or who have seen no improvement in their condition with the use of medication. An additional benefit is that there are no systemic side-effects, unlike most drug treatments.”
In trials, the report said that despite some side effects (10% reported headaches, 9% scalp discomfort, 2% facial twitching) the results were positive overall:
“…the committee noted consistently positive outcomes in many studies and a good safety profile.
Camden and Islington is the first NHS trust in the south of England to use TMS, but treatment is reserved for patients in their Complex Depression Anxiety and Trauma service.
Private TMS for Depression Treatment
The treatment is now available for private patients in London at Smart TMS, a specialist provider of the innovative treatment based at The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross (South Kensington).
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