What is TMS Treatment?

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, it is a non-invasive depression treatment that involves a magnetic coil placed near the parts of the brain associated with positive mood.

What is it?

TMS is a drug-free treatment for medication resistant depression. TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, it is a non-invasive treatment that involves placing a magnetic coil near the parts of the brain associated with positive mood. The magnetic pulse stimulates these parts of the brain, training them to become active again which decrease your depression symptoms.

How well does it work?

Roughly 2 in 3 patients will respond to treatment and 1 in 3 will go into remission (Carpenter 2012).

What are the common side effects?

TMS treatment has a benign side effect profile compared with antidepressants

Antidepressants	TMS
Sexual Dysfunction Weight gain Emotional blunting Sedation Dry mouth Insomnia Gastric upset	Mild headache (often subsides after a couple sessions) Tiredness (often subsides after a couple sessions)

Is TMS treatment safe?

Yes. TMS treatment has been studied for over 20 years without any significant safety issues reporting. The Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists recommends TMS as a safe treatment for depression and Medicare has reimbursed TMS treatment partially because of its safety profile.