What is TMS

TMS is a non-invasive personalised treatment for patients suffering with depression.

It is also used to treat other psychiatric, mental health and neurological conditions.

Using a magnetic field similar to that of an MRI machine but highly focused to target specific areas of the brain.

Sessions last from as little as 3 to 40 minutes depending on the protocol used, with patients able to continue their day straight away after treatment.

Dr Abdelghani taking personalised measurements to ensure precision of the TMS treatment

How it works

Treatment by TMS involves placing an electromagnetic coil over the scalp of the patient.

When used to treat depression the coil is placed over one of the areas of the brain that is known to be responsible for emotional control.

This area of the brain is connected to other areas of the brain that are underactive in depressed patients.

According to the condition treated the treatment coil is placed over different areas of the brain.

The pulsed magnetic field created by the treatment coil reaches this specific area in the brain and induces electrical charges.

The amount of electricity produced is very small but it is enough to cause the neurons (brain cells) to become reactivated again.

The magnetic field generated by the treatment coil is similar to that produced by an MRI machine.

However, the magnetic field produced by the TMS coil is very focal as it only reaches 2-3 cm under the treatment coil and does not even affect the whole brain.

TMS is a personalised treatment for patients suffering with depression or other psychiatric, mental health or neurological disorders.

The site where the coil is placed over the patient’s scalp is determined according to accurate calculations that take into consideration different dimensions of the patient’s head.

At the same time the amount of energy applied is determined according to calculations of the amount of magnetic field that is needed to activate the brain cells of every specific patient.

During TMS sessions the patient is fully awake and alert and they can resume their normal life activities straight away after the session.

Our patients are advised to relax in the treatment chair & enjoy the calming and friendly atmosphere in our TMS treatment room.

Patients could listen to their favourite music, watch a movie or a TV show.

They can also choose to chat to the TMS nurse who will always be in the treatment room with them.

TMS does not require hospitalization, anaesthesia or sedation.

Patients do not experience memory loss and risk of serious side effects are minimal.

TMS is NOT ECT

Comparing TMS to ECT is similar to comparing a private car to a bus. They are both vehicles and are used to get people from point A to point B.

However, they are very different in how they look, how they work and above all the client’s experience is utterly different.

You also need to remember that a bus might not get you precisely where you want to go, while a private car will get you to the doorstep of your address in comfort.

Dr Mohamed Abdelghani

TMS & ECT are two very different treatments

	TMS	ECT
Requires anesthesia	___	Yes
Involves sedation	___	Yes
Patient should be accompanied by a family member or a friend	___	Yes
Patient can not resume usual life activities straight away after the treatment	___	Yes
Affects the whole brain	___	Yes
Can result in memory loss	___	Yes
Headache can occur as a side effect	Yes	Yes