TMS (or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) is a painless and effective treatment for depression and has been used to treat thousands of patients worldwide for over thirty years. It has also been used to treat conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

TMS is a procedure that uses highly concentrated electromagnetic pulses to specific regions of the brain that regulate mood. In more technical terms, during an rTMS session an electrical current pass through a small coil placed close to the scalp. This current induces a magnetic field. The magnetic field can travel through the skull and pass into the brain.

You are immediately excluded from receiving TMS treatment if you:

You have metal implants in your skull/head.

You have recently experienced a seizure.

You have a history of seizures/epilepsy.

You may be excluded if you:

You have a pacemaker

You are pregnant

You have a brain injury.

Other exclusions may apply and will be up to the discretion of the psychiatrist.

In order to be eligible for Medicare rebates for treatment resistant depression TMS sessions you will need to meet these criteria:

You have tried two different classes of anti-depressant medication that have not worked.

or

You are unable to take anti-depressant medications due to severe side effects/allergy.

and

You are over the age of 18.

and

have a referral from your GP/psychiatrist.

The first appointment is called the TMS “induction” which includes neural mapping, motor threshold determination, and an initial treatment session where appropriate.

During your initial appointment the treating psychiatrist will begin by mapping out a region on your scalp which correlates to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).

We will then test the minimum energy needed to stimulate your brain, also known as your resting motor threshold. This determines the dose of magnetic stimulation that you will need during the course of your treatment series.

Motor threshold determination is performed by stimulating the left side of your head over an area of the brain (pre-motor cortex) that controls your right hand. Stimulation with the TMS electromagnetic coil in this location will cause your hand to have a single muscle jerk or twitch. Once we have completed mapping and motor threshold determination, we will proceed with the initial treatment.

Sessions are held 5 times per week (monday-friday) and antidepressant effects may be noticed within the first 10 – 20 sessions.

Up to 20 – 35 sessions are usually needed to consolidate the antidepressant effects. A full course of treatment can be completed within 1 -2 months.

Our clinician will carefully review your treatment regimen and work with you to help optimize your treatment and reduce any risks associated with psychiatric medications. In general, you can continue to take your regular medications during your TMS treatment.

TMS costs will differ from one provider to another, Medicare will also cover some of the costs associated with treatment resistant depression. The Medicare rebate is $143.15 per session for up to 35 sessions.

The Sherpah Clinic does not charge a gap fee for this treatment meaning that there will be no out of pocket cost for each session with us. However, if you are interested in treatment for other non-Medicare supported conditions you will need to cover this cost yourself ($143.15 per session). Some patients may require ongoing “maintenance” sessions, these are charged at $143.15 per session.