rTMS Therapy: A Step Towards Better Emotional Regulation

What is rTMS?

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a brain stimulation therapy that helps individuals manage depression and anxiety-related issues. Functional since 1985, rTMS treatment involves focusing on specific areas of the brain and stimulating them with a magnet. rTMS treatment elicits desired effects in the brain that helps with a wide range of mental health disorders, including depression, psychosis, anxiety, OCD, and more.

At Cadabams Hospitals, we have a stellar team of psychiatrists along with specialist doctors, therapists, psychologists, and registered mental health nurses, who are experts in rTMS psychology and rTMS psychiatry. We offer quality rTMS treatment with successful outcomes.

How does rTMS work?

rTMS is a medicine-free treatment that’s suggested by a psychiatrist or a doctor as an adjunct to the main therapy or when traditional therapies or antidepressant medications are unable to provide expected relief for the individual.

rTMS is a popular procedure that is used to treat depression and usually chosen after both medication and psychotherapy have failed. It’s also important to explore antidepressant medications before moving on to rTMS therapy. Generally, patients choose rTMS treatment when they’ve used up all other options. rTMS is also for those patients who have a greater risk of seizures and may not support anesthesia.

The rTMS device produces a series of strong magnetic signals to the brain by the use of electromagnetic coils. The coil passes the impulse to the brain nerves through the device when it’s placed on the forehead of the individual. Initially, the medical professional analyses the area of the brain that needs to be stimulated.

Then the specific nerve cells in the brain are targeted and induced. As the rTMS therapy progresses, the brainwave regulations improve, thereby providing relief to the individual by reducing the symptoms.

Is rTMS effective?

rTMS therapy is effective against illnesses such as depression and anxiety. rTMS is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has a greater effect on several mood-related issues and disorders. rTMS treatment helps to manage other neurological and psychological disorders such as:

• Bipolar disorder
• Parkinson’s disease
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic disorders
• Sleep-related issues
• Chronic pain

Is rTMS safe?

Yes, rTMS is a completely safe treatment method. Furthermore, it doesn’t require any medications such as needles and anesthetics. rTMS induces only the pure magnetic impulse to enter the body. rTMS treatment comes with a few minor side effects (mentioned below). Other than that, rTMS has lesser side effects when compared to the other side effects that are associated with antidepressants and medications.

Benefits of rTMS

No sedation or anesthetic is required. Most times, when patients undergo a major procedure, it usually involves anesthesia or sedation, which can pose a life risk as well; sedation and anesthesia can cause loads of fear and anxiety.

Unlike sedation, which can have negative side effects like confusion, vomiting, cognitive dysfunction, and delirium, electroconvulsive therapy or rational emotive therapy does not need sedation or anesthesia; this will minimize a lot of the risks.

Few side effects – rTMS has shown little to no side effects or safety risks. Only ten percent of patients have experienced some discomfort such as mild headaches. There are rare cases where rTMS has caused a seizure. Hence, proper screening should be done before receiving rTMS therapy.

Quick onset – Almost 75% of patients will see a response with rTMS therapy, in a clinical setting. This is defined as a drop in depression symptoms by half. Around 50% of patients who have received this rTMS treatment have experienced mild symptoms.

rTMS patients can see some improvements within the first two weeks of treatments, unlike some medications that take the body many weeks to adjust to the dosage.

No recovery period – Since rTMS does not need any anesthetic or sedation, there is no need for a recovery period after a session.

Cognitive improvements – Usually, depression can cause cognitive impairments, and patients will see an increase in cognitive functioning. Studies have shown that rational emotive therapy, in high frequencies, can improve attention, memory, and executive functioning like decision making and reasoning.

Other benefits include –

• Non-invasive
• Non-medicine treatment
• Effective with all mood-related issues
• Responsive treatment technique

How many sessions of rTMS will I need?

Ideally, going for around 20 sessions is recommended. The frequency of the sessions should be at least 2 to 3 times a week. You can expect to get results within 8 to 12 sessions.