Somerset first South West county to offer magnetic treatment for severe depression
The rTMS machine uses magnets to stimulate certain parts of the brain
Last updated 15th Jun 2024
Somerset is the first county in the south west to offer treatment for severe depression - free on the NHS.
The 'groundbreaking' science which is based at a clinic in Taunton uses a magnetic field which can stimulate different parts of the brain.
It's used when other methods of treating depression aren't effective, such as antidepressants and talking therapies.
The treatment has been a method of treating severe depression for years after being approved by the National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and the Royal College of Psychiatrists back in 2015 here in the UK.
Dr Nathan Maynard, lead consultant psychiatrist for the rTMS clinic, explains: “Depression can be a very debilitating illness and is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with up to a third of patients being resistant to clinical treatments, so any new treatment we have for it is really welcome.
“If first line treatments, such as antidepressants and talking therapies, are not effective, then they can be considered for rTMS if it’s clinically appropriate for them.
“The patient would be referred to our clinic and I’d assess them, before offering an intensive course of rTMS.
“We know that certain parts of the brain are underactive in depression, so this treatment promotes regeneration of those areas.
“It feels like a tapping sensation on a patient's skull, and there are minimal side effects. It's great to be able to offer patients more of a choice.”
Treatment takes a big time commitment - it lasts five days a week for six weeks, with each session with the rTMS machine lasting 60 minutes.
Before anything gets going, though, patients are given an initial consultation.
Catriona Gullick, neuromodulation team leader at the Wellsprings Clinic, explains how the rTMS treatment works: “During treatment, patients can chat to our colleagues, read, or listen to music, whichever they would prefer to do during their sessions.
“We review the patient’s progress throughout their treatment and chat with them about how things are going.
“Most of our patients are under the care of our mental health services so they’ll generally have a community consultant or key worker. We work closely with our mental health colleagues to identify any changes in the patient’s condition that might inform their treatment.
“Feedback from patients has been really positive so far and we’re looking forward to offering the service more widely.”
David from Frome was one of the most recent patients to undergo the rTMS treatment at the Wellsprings Clinic.
For him, combinations of antidepressants didn't work, or gave him bad side effects.
He added: "I came down to Taunton for six weeks and I’ve found the treatment to be very beneficial. It has helped a lot with the severity of my anxiety and depression.
“I also haven’t had any side effects from the treatment, other than a slightly sore head for an hour or two – which was great.
“I found the team in Taunton to be fantastic and it’s generally a very welcoming environment and so personal. I didn’t feel as though I was in a large hospital setting – it was a really nice haven of calm.
“Now that I’ve finished my course of treatment, I keep in touch with the clinic team and let them know of my progress, as they were such a help to me.”
You can find out more about how rTMS works and if it's right for you on the NHS Website, which can point you in the right direction to get in touch with a trained clinical professional.