Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Careline Clinic is excited to announce that we have procured our very own Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Machine otherwise known as TMS. TMS is a non-invasive treatment option that treats major depressive disorders, anxiety and treatment resistant depressive disorders. This treatment is relatively new to South Africa and we are currently the fifth facility in the country to be in possession of this treatment option. We believe this treatment option will be a game changer in the fight against mental illness and we look forward to sharing this new service not just in the city of Kimberley but the whole of the Northern Cape.

WHAT IS TMS?

As mentioned above TMS  is a non-invasive treatment option that treats major depressive disorders, anxiety and treatment resistant depressive disorders. This means that when a patient is undergoing TMS treatment, there will be no procedures such as surgical operations, anaesthesia or  the consumption of medication. TMS is a neuromodulator  technique that delivers magnetic pulses in the frontal area of the brain. The main goal of this is to target the specific area of the brain that has been affected by a mental disorder. These magnetic pulses are transmitted through a cooled coil that is placed on the scalp of a conscious person and the treatment commences. The treatment duration and type will be based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved protocols. Once treatment is successful, a patient will have long-term relief from depression and anxiety. When undergoing this treatment it is important to ascertain that a patient has no metallic items present such as necklaces, cell-phones, earrings and pacemakers. This is because if patient has any of these, the procedure can’t be continued as these objects may affect the treatments effectiveness and do more harm than good to the patient.

WHERE DOES THE TREATMENT COME FROM?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) was a treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America to treat major depressive disorders in 2008.  However, TMS has now quickly become an alternative form of treatment for those who aren’t responding to medication for depressive disorders and those who would rather not take medication. The FDA has also approved TMS treatment for those dealing with OCD and tests have been conducted to see if it will be feasible to treat those suffering with PTSD as well as drug addiction. While TMS is a treatment that has been available for longer than a decade in the U.S. and other countries overseas like England and Australia, it is a relatively new treatment on South African shores. As a result of this there are aren’t many places in the country where one can access but we are proud to be sharing this new treatment option to people in the Northern Cape.