About TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Perth Clinic
Who can benefit from TMS?
TMS has been studied for over fifteen years, involving research centres worldwide, and evidence has shown TMS to be a safe and effective treatment for drug-resistant depression. This has led to Medicare approval of TMS for this condition.
TMS has also shown to be effective in other mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
TMS is also used to treat pain conditions including fibromyalgia, and peripheral pain syndromes, post-stroke recovery, and neurological conditions such as chronic migraine, and tinnitus.
There is ongoing research into how TMS can be applied to several other conditions. These findings will broaden the application of TMS in the future.
What happens during TMS?
TMS is done using a special machine which has a magnetic coil attached to a mechanical ‘arm’. This allows for an electromagnetic pulse to be delivered to a precise region in the brain. While receiving TMS, the patient is seated in a comfortable reclined position. The TMS coil is placed above the patient’s head at the correct position.
During the first treatment session, the patient’s individual stimulation dose (ie. the amount of energy required to stimulate the patient’s brain cells) will be determined. This is a unique dose and must be determined for each individual patient. This dose may be rechecked during the treatment course to ensure patients are getting the correct stimulation level.
Once the correct placement and stimulation dose have been determined, the TMS machine will deliver precise impulses to a small section of the brain.
After the treatment session, patients are immediately able to drive and resume normal activities. No medications are given, and patients are completely awake during the whole process.
How does TMS work?
TMS is able to accurately target underactive regions of the brain to produce sustained results. It is evidence-based and backed by over 35 years of research.
It was first developed in 1985 and became FDA approved for Depression in 2008. In November 2021, TMS was listed under Medicare for Treatment Resistant Depression.
TMS stimulates neural activity in brain regions that are underactive. This underactivity is often seen in regions associated with mental illness and chronic pain. The most common region we target is called the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is strongly involved in the regulation of mood. When these nerves are activated repeatedly, lasting change in brain circuity can occur through the process of neuroplasticity.
Benefits of TMS
TMS Referrals
Contact us for more information about our TMS Referrals Process.