Nijmegen, 28 August 2009 – The combination of conversation therapy and magnetic brain stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of depression results in an effectiveness of 75% after an average of 20 sessions. These are the results of a scientific study that will be published this month. The addition of rTMS in talk therapy has the same purpose as antidepressants. rTMS has hardly any side effects, such as weight gain or sleeping problems. This therapy is no different from regular conversation therapy, but the addition of rTMS seems to make people more susceptible to dealing with the depression and therefore the long-term effect is often better.

rTMS effective addition to call therapy

The combination of conversation therapy and rTMS treatment, with a success rate of 75%, seems to be a golden handle for the treatment of depression. Between 8 and 12 sessions is the turning point for whether or not an effect. On average, clients undergo 20 treatments for a long-lasting result. The depression is tested with questionnaires at every 5th session. Initial results from research into the long-term effects show that after six months the depressive symptoms have still decreased significantly compared to the intake interview prior to treatment. The results of this study will be published this month in the “Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology”.

What is rTMS?

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a neurophysiological technique that can be used for the treatment of various neurological disorders including depression and Parkinson’s disease. With this technique an electromagnetic coil is placed on the head. By means of a pulsating magnetic field, specific parts of the brain are stimulated with the aim of increasing or decreasing blood flow and electrical activity in a specific part of the brain. These changes
in activity and blood flow can be accompanied by behavioral changes such as a decrease in depressive feelings.

Treatment is more accessible than people often think
As a first-line psychologist’s practice, the psychologists at Brainclinics work, among other things, on the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy. The unique combination of conversation therapy and rTMS makes the treatment very effective, so that depression can be treated in a short time.
It is quite conceivable that rTMS will play an important role in the future
regular psychological assistance.
More information about the treatment can be requested via

Reference

rTMS bij Depressie (2009). Desiree Spronk & Martijn Arns. Tijdschrift voor Neuropsychiatrie en Gedragsneurologie, Juli-Augustus; 163-167