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Transactional Magnetic Stimulation shown to lead to remission from symptoms in one-in-three patients
A new non-invasive treatment for depression, which has been shown to deliver remission for one third of its patients, is to be introduced in an Irish hospital for the first time.
St John of God Hospital in Dublin has begun delivering repetitive Transactional Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy as a treatment option for patients with depression.
This therapy offers a new option for patients who have not had sufficient success with conventional depression treatments. St John of God Hospital will be the first hospital to introduce this treatment for depression on a consultant-led basis.
The effectiveness of rTMS treatment for depressive disorders and treatment-resistant depression has been firmly established in recent years. Clinical studies have shown that approximately 50 per cent of patients experience significant symptom relief with rTMS treatment, with about one-third achieving remission from their depression symptoms.
The typical treatment course consists of daily sessions over 4-6 weeks, with each session lasting about 20-40 minutes. It is performed on an outpatient basis and requires no anaesthesia, meaning patients can drive, work, and resume daily activities immediately after their sessions.
Around 21 million people in Europe, or 4.5 per cent of the population, experience depression, with higher rates in women (8.8 per cent) than men (5.3 per cent). In Ireland, 12 per cent of young people (15-24 years) report chronic depression, the highest rate in Europe.
“The introduction of rTMS at St John of God Hospital represents significant advancement in our mental health services,” said the hospital’s head of neuromodulation services, consultant psychiatrist Dr Simon Mitchell.
“This non-invasive treatment offers new hope to our patients who haven’t found relief through traditional methods. This expansion of our psychiatric services reflects St John of God Hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing the most advanced, evidence-based treatments to our patients.”
