Depression is the most common mental health disorder around the world and the most common for people between the ages of 15 and 44. The first approach is to treat traditional depression, including antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.

However, roughly 2/3 of people with depression won’t see adequate relief from their symptoms after their first antidepressant treatment plan, and many symptoms remain for individuals up to several months after treatment.

So when people develop treatment resistance or struggle to see relief from their symptoms with traditional medication and therapy, they can turn to alternative options like rTMS treatment for depression.

What is rTMS Treatment for Depression?

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation. This type of treatment is highly effective in mental health fields, offering fast and lasting relief for people with things like depression.

rTMS depression treatment uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain associated with depression symptoms. It is a highly safe and effective treatment, one which has next to no side effects and is well tolerated. Moreover, what few side effects appear tend to go away after the first few sessions. Many people have turned to rTMS depression treatment because it can be used in conjunction with any other form of treatment, including traditional medications and therapy.

Understanding rTMS: Mechanism and Science

The mechanism of action that leads to high success levels is the ability to target areas of the brain known for causing or contributing to depression symptoms.

These areas, like the prefrontal cortex, might not get enough blood flow, have enough activity, or be otherwise underperforming. With magnetic stimulation, those areas can see increased blood flow, activity, and performance, which does away with many of the symptoms associated with depression.

Effectiveness of rTMS for Severe and Treatment-Resistant Depression

Another reason that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has undergone extensive testing is its ability to help people with treatment-resistant depression.

How Effective Is rTMS Depression Treatment?

The response rates for rTMS treatment for depression and treatment-resistant depression indicate between 50% and 55% of people have a successful change in their symptoms, with an average of 30% of people having complete remission.

rTMS Treatment-Resistant Depression: What the Data Shows

Some studies have found that around 30% of those who undergo rTMS treatment-resistant depression programs respond well to treatment, with another 20% achieving complete remission.

Factors Influencing rTMS Effectiveness

So, what are the factors that influence how effective this treatment might be for you or someone in your family?

It depends on the causes of depression for the individual and whether those causes are related to brain function.

rTMS Treatment Process for Severe Depression

So, what does this process look like for those with severe depression?

What to Expect During rTMS Treatment for Depression

When you schedule a treatment session with rTMS, you can expect to walk through the facility during your initial consultation, where you will likely be shown the type of equipment that will be used, the chair in which you’ll sit, and introduced to the technicians with whom you’ll work.

During each session, you’ll be encouraged to wear comfortable clothing because you’ll be sitting in a chair, but other than comfort, there are no restrictions on what you wear. During the stimulation, you can listen to music, watch movies on your phone, or even read books.

The technician will place you in the chair when it’s time for your appointments, put electrodes on your head in the appropriate spots, and then utilize an electrical device to send those magnetic pulses to areas of your brain. At all times, the location and intensity of those magnetic pulses remain under the control of the skilled technicians.

rTMS Treatment Plan and Timeline for Severe Cases

When you meet with a team of professionals to start your treatment process you’ll create a timeline and a treatment plan with them.

For many severe cases, that timeline will take several weeks, during which you will typically meet every day of the week each week for a session lasting an average of 30 minutes.

The first few sessions are designed to help map your brain and figure out the location of the areas earmarked for stimulation, and after that, the remainder of your treatment plan and timeline will focus on stimulating that area under direct supervision from the technicians at your treatment center.

Possible Side Effects and Safety Considerations

There are very few side effects and safety considerations associated with rTMS depression treatment. If you have any type of electrical unit surgically installed in the head, like a Cochlear implant, or if you suffer from epilepsy, this may not be a viable treatment for you, but barring that, most people only struggle with things like headaches that tend to go away after the first few sessions.

Long-Term Outlook: Sustaining the Benefits of rTMS

There are also considerations for how long the relief lasts. Those who undergo rTMS depression treatment and see remission or reduction in symptoms will not have permanent relief; the brain’s plasticity is what allows this type of stimulation to improve mood regulation, but depending on the cause, that same plasticity reverts to its original state after about six months to 1 year.

This means that individuals will need to receive treatment on a regular basis in order to maintain the same symptoms, but there are no issues associated with regular treatment as part of long-term care.
For this reason, it’s important that you always participate in your follow-up appointments and that you utilize any maintenance strategies that your care team has provided for you.

You can safely combine rTMS with other depression treatments as a way to help prevent relapse and extend the efficacy of the rTMS results.

Considering rTMS for Severe Depression: Is It Right for You?

So how do you know if it’s suitable for you?

If you are interested in rTMS depression treatment, you’ll need to evaluate how effective other medications or treatment plans have been and whether you are looking for something that can control symptoms in a new way.

If you have a severe diagnosis or you have treatment-resistant depression, it is worth considering this intensive treatment option, given the lack of side effects and white applicability.

From there, it’s important that you find a qualified provider. There are many providers, but when you consult with those in your area, you’ll want to ask key questions about the type of treatment they have offered in the past, what technology they use, whether they accept your insurance or have payment plans, and other questions relevant to your circumstances.

Summing Up

What is rTMS treatment for depression? It is a viable alternative to traditional medication and therapy, one that has high rates of efficacy with many benefits and is particularly useful in helping individuals facing severe or treatment-resistant depression.