What is TMS?
TMS uses rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce small electrical currents in targeted brain regions. These currents influence neuronal activity and can normalize dysfunctional brain circuits involved in mood and behavior.
Unlike medication, which affects the entire brain and body, TMS is targeted and localized, focusing on specific cortical areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
- A coil is placed on the scalp
- Magnetic pulses pass through the skull
- Electric fields are induced in brain tissue
- Repeated stimulation leads to neuroplastic changes
TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
TMS hardware includes a generally non-portable stimulation device positioned on a table or trolley, with a port to which different TMS coils can be connected.
The TMS coil is placed on the patient’s head and enables transcranial (through the intact skull) painless brain stimulation with few to no side effects.
Repetitive TMS, or rTMS, involves the rhythmic delivery of magnetic pulses, often at either 10 Hertz or 1 Hertz, to respectively enhance or suppress the activity of the targeted region with longer lasting effects. These rTMS-triggered neuroplastic changes have shown to translate into clinically beneficial treatment outcomes for patients in psychiatry, neurology, and neurorehabilitation.
It has been suggested that rTMS protocols may achieve these clinical treatment effects by engaging specific synaptic plasticity mechanisms, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), as well as modulations in functional brain network connectivity.
By now, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation has proven to be clinically effective in treating various neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, OCD, and neuropathic pain.
TMS treatments are FDA-approved, have received level-A recommendation (definitely effective) and are reimbursed by health insurances in a growing number of countries throughout the world.
We have seen patients with severe depression and a long journey of unsuccessful treatment trials reaching full remission after TMS treatment.
TMS has very few to no side effects. In fact, most of our patients don’t experience any side effects at all, while benefitting from sustained clinical improvements.
Importantly, using TMS in the most effective and responsible way requires appropriate training and qualification. This is exactly where our team of internationally renowned TMS experts comes in, offering accredited training and certification in TMS aligned with highest international standards.