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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a form of neuromodulation. A non-invasive, non-convulsive method of brain stimulation therapy that has proved effective in the treatment of neurological and mental health conditions such as depression and general anxiety disorder.
TMS uses a magnetic field to deliver a short-lasting electrical pulse into the brain where it stimulates neurons (nerve cells). This has been shown to improve communication between different areas of the brain particularly in the superficial regions of the cerebral cortex.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a type of TMS. During the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, the pulses are repeated quickly one after the other, thus gaining the name rTMS. You will find both terms used interchangeably.
Pioneered in 1985, at the University of Sheffield by Anthony Baker a medical physicist, TMS was developed for the diagnosis of depression. Since its introduction it has undergone extensive research and clinical trials and is now known to be successful in the identification and treatment of several other neurological illnesses and psychiatric disorders.
TMS treatments have been approved by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, UK) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA).
TMS is now used in varying degrees to detect and treat the following -
1. TMS is non-invasive.
TMS is non-invasive, meaning it works outside the body. It does not require surgery or the implantation of electrodes. During a diagnosis session or treatment therapy the TMS machine sends a mild electromagnetic pulse, or wave through the skull into the brain to stimulate targeted areas; specifically, those cells involved in mood regulation which release neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. The waves used are similar to those of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and are completely harmless, and painless.
2. There are no extreme side effects with TMS.
Unlike the typical pharmaceutical treatments used for depression and anxiety disorders, there are no lasting or severe side effects with TMS. Antidepressant medication can come with a wide range of side-effects including nausea, weight gain, tiredness, sleepiness and insomnia, sexual dysfunction, memory loss, and apathy.
TMS is not completely side effect free, but the minimal effects felt by some during the actual stimulation process, which can include a mild headache or dizziness and slight scalp discomfort, are usually brief and will go within minutes of the session concluding.
3. TMS does not require sedation or anaesthesia.
TMS therapy can be done in a rehab clinic or hospital outpatient setting. There are no negative effects and patients do not need to be accompanied as they are able to function normally afterwards and can drive themselves immediately following the session.
4. TMS is not addictive.
Some of the pharmaceutical based treatments for depression and emotional disorders carry the risk of addiction. TMS is totally non-addictive and has in fact has been proven to be effective in treating substance addiction, and other co-occurring conditions such as PTSD and bipolar.
5. TMS is effective and has long term results.
TMS has shown to be up to 70% effective in the treatment of mental health disorders; and the results continue long after the treatment is over with 90% of people feeling the benefits 12 months later. It has also demonstrated positive outcomes in patients who previously did not respond well to the use of antidepressant medication.
There have been several studies and trials into the efficacy of TMS treatment for –
Depression
In a 2012 study, TMS was found to improve depression significantly in 58% of patients and provide complete remission of symptoms in 37% of patients. Studies have found that TMS is particularly effective for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
General Anxiety Disorder
A randomised trial by Dieffenbachia in 2016, showed that TMS gave a significantly higher clinical response and remission rates than the placebo group, and sustained after treatment had ended. Results showed 1 in 3 people recovered from anxiety entirely, and 75% saw clinically significant improvements.
Smart TMS (one of the UKs leading TMS providers), found in a patient audit that their remission rates (identifying as no longer clinically regarded and anxious) stand at 62%, with 75% of all patients showing a minimum of a 30% improvement in their symptoms.
Cocaine Addiction
A 2007 trial (by Camprodon) documented that cocaine cravings reduced temporarily after only two TMS sessions. Politi in 2008 continued the research with similar results, both studies demonstrated the vital role the prefrontal cortex plays in modulating cravings felt by patients with addiction.
Further research (2016) used a medicated control group, to be compared with the group receiving TMS treatment. A higher number of cocaine-free urine samples were given in the TMS group, and the average cocaine craving scale score was much lower. Following the completion of the initial trial the medicated control group were switched to TMS treatment, achieving further positive results.
Alcohol
Alcohol use impairs the ability of the nerves of the brain cells in the left prefrontal cortex to build and reconnect, in 2018/19 a study showed proved the benefits of using TMS to rewire the brain in alcohol addiction. Further studies have proved that recently detoxed patients have been able to use TMS to reduce cravings, thus reducing the risk of relapse.
PTSD
Studies in 2014 and 2017 both saw a significant improvement in the main and related symptoms of PTSD following a course of TMS treatment (compared with a placebo group).
A 2018 study revealed that treating PTSD with a combination of TMS and psychological therapy was significantly more effective than therapy alone and the benefits continued beyond the end of the six-month study.
OCD
A review of 20 separate studies concluded that TMS gave clinically significant improvements in symptoms compared to a placebo treatment. Studies showed that, following a full course of OCD treatment, around 55% of patients saw a significant reduction in their symptoms with 1 in 3 going into complete remission.
Ibiza is an idyllic spot to recover. The sun shines on average 300 days of the year, it’s surrounded by the pristine, turquoise Mediterranean sea and has beautiful beaches and evergreen pine forests. The island’s sunny, powerful energy and serene surroundings make it a perfect place for an effective and restful residential recovery treatment.
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I wanted to drop you a quick message to thank you very much for your help and support during my stay within Ibiza Calm. Each and every person in the house was important in his own way in my recovery. I feel very grateful to all of you. It’s not always easy but it is achievable. My life is way much better than it was before coming and I am definitely a better version of myself now.
My son attended two rehab facilities before going to Ibiza Calm. Ibiza Calm, however, was exactly what it professed to be. They worked with my son as a vital ally in his recovery process, not as a person to be broken and fixed according to a set regimen, who would be blamed and shamed if he did not respond appropriately to the facility's treatment protocol and schedule. The therapist assigned to my son struck the right balance between allowing him to move at a pace at which he was comfortable and pushing him to keep a challenging pace of self-discovery and recovery. My son has come out of this treatment calm and self-aware; whereas he finished the other programs angry and even traumatized. My son has only been 6 weeks out of Ibiza Calm, so the long-term success in remaining sober remains to be seen, but the change in his attitude and behavior is so profound that I have great hope for the future for the first time in years. I recommend Ibiza Calm without reservation, rather with overwhelming gratitude.
I was at Ibiza calm from the 4th of July to the 29th of July 2020, I am 23 years of age and was in a horrific place in my life From drink and cocaine. My girlfriend is pregnant and outright had enough of my selfish behaviour. I was really ready to start my recovery, I settled in fantastic they have amazing staff so helpful and caring, the food is unbelievable thanks to Danny the main man in the kitchen, the grounds are beautiful, the bedrooms are very nice I overall found my stay amazing. 10/10 couldn’t fault it many thanks Francis.
My husband was in the priory 6 months ago, which I wasn’t totally convinced by not only experiences of others but the surroundings/ Set up and approach to it .. he is only 2 weeks into his journey at IBIZA calm and it’s the first time in a long time I can finally hear happiness in his voice, and motivation on his healing / sobriety journey , commitment to his inner and outer health.. I know this is just the beginnings But both billy and Luca have been extremely helpful and helpful to myself ! If your looking for yourself or a loved one, 100 look no further this is the type of place someone who is suffering needs- the surroundings, the programme, the environment , and amazing team!
I can't thank the team at Ibiza Calm enough. I had a friend who spent time with them and what they have done is amazing. From the therapy to the meetings have all set him up for moving forward. Once he left he was not just left and has a fantastic aftercare system in place. Thank You.
I am writing a review on behalf of a friend who prefers to remain anonymous and wishes to express his thanks and gratitude to the staff at Ibiza Calm. He had previously stayed at two rehab centres in the UK, and found the experience at Ibiza Calm to be far more beneficial than either of the UK centres. He said he felt the therapists were much more experienced and caring in their approach which in turn gave him the confidence to finally fully open up about his triggers and issues. He has been sober for the longest period since he has started his road to recovery and it's all thanks to Ibiza Calm.
I'm so grateful for my month at Ibiza Calm. It's a beautiful place, and I learned how to manage my life in a positive way, with healthy food, exercise and self-awareness. I've had many life challenges since I left ( over 2 years ago), but I haven't used any of the destructive behaviours I previously relied on. I gained clarity, freedom and sanity, for which I will always be thankful.
ibiza calm is a great place for treatment I was using drugs and drink all the time my life was a mess until I went to ibiza calm in april 2016 the staff were fantastic and cared for me the treatment I recieved was second to none I can't thank ibiza calm enough and also my family have there son and husband back in there lives thanks to this place I am grateful to the owners who have always supported me through the years