About tms
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
At Cam-Mind, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive and personalized mental health care through advanced neuromodulation treatments. Our services are designed to ensure you receive the most effective care tailored to your specific needs.
How TMS Works
Understanding the Basics
During a TMS session, a coil placed on the scalp generates magnetic pulses that pass painlessly through the skull into the brain. These pulses target specific areas involved in mood regulation and other mental health processes.
Stimulation of Brain Activity
The magnetic pulses stimulate brain activity to rewire the brain. For depression, the pulses often focus on the prefrontal cortex, an area less active in depressed individuals. This stimulation helps normalize brain activity and improve mood. TMS is safe. The exposure from the magnetic pulses is similar to a low-field MRI clinical brain scan. Many do not experience side effects. Some might feel symptoms of headache, local scalp discomfort or light headedness.
Modulating Brain Function
TMS modulates brain function in key ways:
Brain Plasticity: Promotes the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, leading to long-term improvements.
Brain Rewiring: Activates or inhibits brain activity, rewiring and balancing brain function and alleviating symptoms.
Session Structure
A typical TMS treatment involves daily sessions over several weeks, each lasting 20-40 minutes. During the session, you’ll sit comfortably while a technician ensures precise targeting of brain regions.
CaM-FAST
Cam-Mind offers a novel TMS treatment protocol pioneered by our research team, known as CaM-FAST (Cambridge-Mind Fudan Accelerated Sequential TMS). This advanced treatment approach targets two different brain networks associated with depression, treating depression as a network disorder.
CaM-FAST Protocol
- Accelerated Treatment Schedule: Unlike the standard 20-day protocol, CaM-FAST delivers all 20 sessions over just 5 days. Sessions are scheduled in half-day blocks from Friday to Tuesday, with five 15-minute sessions per day and 45-minute intervals between sessions.
- Rapid Antidepressant Effects: The dual and accelerated stimulation nature of CaM-FAST leads to a rapid onset of antidepressant effects. In our randomized controlled trial, 50% of patients were clinical responders* in 5 days, and 60% were clinical responders within the first month. 95% showed a clinically meaningful decrease in depression** in 5 days. This rapid improvement occurs in patients who have previously failed psychotherapy and antidepressants.
*Greater than 50% decrease in depression severity from baseline
**Greater than 4 point decrease in depression severity from baseline - Convenience for Busy Schedules: This condensed treatment schedule is particularly beneficial for individuals with busy schedules, offering an effective treatment option without the need for prolonged commitment.
Real People. Real Stories
TMS: Step by Step
When you visit us at CAM-Mind, we’ll guide you through every step of your TMS journey. From your initial introduction to TMS, through personalized parameter adjustments, to the final delivery of your treatment, we ensure a comfortable and supportive experience throughout your time with us.
Approval & Benefits
Benefits of TMS
Non-Invasive: An outpatient treatment with no surgery, medication or anaesthesia required.
Effective: Proven to reduce depression symptoms, especially in treatment-resistant cases.
Minimal Side Effects: Fewer and less severe side effects compared to medications.
Clinical Approval and Guidelines
TMS is CE-marked, FDA-approved, and included in the NICE guidelines for treating depression, particularly for those unresponsive to psychotherapy and antidepressants.
Safety and Side Effects
TMS is safe and well-tolerated, with most patients experiencing only mild scalp discomfort or headaches that resolve quickly. It is an outpatient treatment with the patient awake and doesn’t require anaesthesia or medication, and patients can resume daily activities immediately after treatment.
Holistic Approach
We treat both the brain and the mind, emphasizing the importance of psychotherapy and exercise as effective adjunctive treatments. Our goal is to help patients achieve remission and wellness, aiming for comprehensive mental health care.