TMS for Depression, Anxiety & OCD
Gentle, targeted neurostimulation treatment at our Bondi Junction (Sydney) and Bundaberg clinics.
- Bulk-billed TMS for treatment-resistant depression. No out-of-pocket costs.
- No downtime — drive home immediately after sessions
- Beat depression faster - accelerated TMS available!
- Effective treatment when standard medications haven't worked.
- A non-medication alternative depression treatment delivered by trained professionals
What is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses gentle magnetic pulses to target specific brain networks involved in mood regulation and anxiety. It helps either to “re-awaken” (stimulate) or “quiet” (inhibit) areas of the brain to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Most evidence supports the use of TMS in depression; however, it may be a treatment option for other mental health and neurological conditions.
TMS is approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which is when at least two adequate trials of different classes of antidepressants have failed to result in improvements or caused intolerable side effects.
Why Do Patients Choose TMS?
- Low Side Effects: No systemic side effects like weight gain, fatigue, or nausea. No cognitive side effects or ‘personality changes’.
- Fully Awake & Comfortable: Sit back in a comfortable chair — no anaesthesia or sedation required. Clients can drive after treatment and immediately continue with their daily activities.
- High Success Rate: Data on real-world TMS patients report up to 80% response rates for depression treatment.
What is Accelerated TMS?
Accelerated TMS is an advanced, intensive form of TMS designed for rapid relief from depression. Instead of receiving one treatment session per day over six to eight weeks, clients receive multiple brief, highly concentrated sessions per day, condensing a full course of therapy into fewer days. Because accelerated TMS can be structured in a few different ways, your psychiatrist will select the best schedule for your needs.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT TMS
Example: 5-Day Accelerated TMS Protocol
This accelerated TMS protocol delivers 50 treatments in just 5 consecutive days!
Three brief, 3-minute intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) treatments (9 minutes of treatment) are delivered every hour throughout the day, totalling 10 comprehensive treatment blocks per day for 5 days. Clients can rest and relax at the clinic in-between their treatments.
Understanding iTBS: The iTBS protocol is a very brief, high-frequency form of TMS delivered to mimic the brain’s natural learning rhythms.
Benefits of Accelerated TMS:
- Rapid Relief: Patients often experience significant mood improvement in days rather than weeks.
- Minimal Disruption: Complete your entire treatment course in up to a single week, avoiding weeks of daily clinic visits.
- Proven Efficacy: Uses the standard iTBS (intermittent Theta Burst) pulse protocol, which is highly effective for treatment-resistant depression.
- Safe & Well-Tolerated: Offers the same excellent safety profile as standard daily TMS.
- High Number of Pulses Delivered: During the 5-Day intensive protocol each session delivers a triple-dose (3 x 600 = 1,800 pulses) and you receive a robust total of 90,000 therapeutic pulses over the 5-day period—the mathematical equivalent of a full 6-week protocol is packed into one week.
Who is Suitable for Accelerated TMS?
Accelerated TMS is ideal for individuals with treatment-resistant depression who:
- Need rapid clinical relief (e.g., severe depressive episodes or functional impairment).
- Cannot commit to a traditional approximately 6-week daily treatment schedule due to work, travel, or geographic location.
- Are able to stay comfortably at the clinic for several hours a day over a 5-day period (or similar).
- Are assessed as suitable by our psychiatrist.
Important Disclaimer and Personalised Approach
Our 5-Day Accelerated Protocol delivers a high-dose schedule modelled after the intensive treatment structures developed in recent major university trials (such as the Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy SNT protocol*). Please note that our clinic utilises the clinically validated Beam F3 mathematical mapping method rather than a functional MRI (fMRI) brain scan. While this means the treatment is a generic accelerated protocol rather than the branded SAINT program, clinical data confirm that non-MRI accelerated schedules deliver highly comparable, rapid, and robust therapeutic results without the added high out-of-pocket expense of imaging.
*The original name for SNT was Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy or SAINT
Putting Your Individual Needs First: Although our 5-day accelerated protocol (and similar protocols like SNT/SAINT) is typically delivered over 5 days, we know that every client is different. We always put your safety, tolerability, and individual needs first. Because of this, our clinical team may advise a varied but faster approach to treatment if it is more appropriate for you.
Is an MRI Essential to Locate the TMS Treatment Target Area?
No. While neuronavigation (using an MRI to map the brain) is a valuable tool for academic research, large-scale clinical data confirms it does not change your chances of getting better. Specifically, rigorous clinical trials show no statistical difference in depression recovery or remission rates between high-tech MRI navigation and the math-based Beam F3 method we use.
Because the therapeutic magnetic field covers a broad area of the brain’s emotional network, our precise mapping ensures you receive maximum clinical benefit while saving you thousands of dollars in unnecessary out-of-pocket imaging costs.
Research confirms that the Beam F3 method achieves the exact same depression recovery and remission results as costly MRI neuronavigation.
📖 Scientific References:
- The 5-Day Accelerated Schedule: Read the landmark Stanford University clinical trial showing a 78.6% depression remission rate in 5 days on PubMed (Cole et al., 2022).
- Anatomical Targeting Accuracy: Read the neuroimaging study proving that mathematical skull measurements match the structural accuracy of an MRI on PubMed Central (Mir-Moghtadaei et al., 2015).
- Actual Clinical Recovery Rates: Read the randomized controlled trial confirming that the Beam F3 method achieves the exact same depression recovery and remission results as expensive MRI neuronavigation on https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X23019095
Fees
- TMS for treatment-resistant depression is bulk-billed under Medicare for clients 18 years and older for up to 35 treatment sessions. There are no additional out-of-pocket fees to clients.
- Accelerated Protocols: Only 15 of the required sessions are not covered by Medicare for an accelerated 5-day schedule.
- Total Out-of-Pocket Cost to Client: $750 total for the non-covered sessions.
- Treatment is available to eligible WorkCover and DVA clients.
- Doctor reviews are billed at our standard clinic fees and Medicare rebates apply.
- Initial Assessment — A comprehensive psychiatric consultation to confirm suitability and outline your personal treatment plan.
- Brain Mapping — A quick, pain-free initial setup to pinpoint the exact coil location and treatment dosing requirements.
- Treatment Sessions — Relax in a comfortable chair for 3 to 20 minutes per session while listening to music or chatting with our TMS nurses.
- Review & Progress — Scheduled check-ins with your treating clinician to monitor your mood improvements and adjust care.
ADVANCES IN TMS TREATMENT RESEARCH
- Depression: TMS has been extensively studied and proven effective for treating depression and major depressive disorder (MDD), especially when traditional treatments have failed to provide optimal outcomes.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): TMS offers promising results for reducing OCD symptoms, particularly when the stimulation is targeted at specific brain regions involved in compulsive behaviours. OCD affects 2-3% of the Australian population. Many sufferers of OCD will not respond sufficiently to psychological therapy and medication and for these individuals, deep TMS is a reasonable option. Deep TMS is delivered with specific devices and approved coils, such as the double-cone coil used at AwareHub.
- Anxiety Disorders: Studies suggest TMS can be beneficial in managing anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder. TMS used to treat depression, may also reduce any co-occurring anxiety.
- PTSD, Chronic Pain, Tinnitus, ASD, Eating Disorder, Addictions: Research is ongoing to explore the potential benefits of TMS for treating other mental health conditions.
FAQ
Most clients describe a light tapping sensation on the scalp during treatment. It is generally well-tolerated and side effects are mild (such as a temporary mild headache).
Yes. TMS requires no sedation, so you can drive, return to work, or resume normal daily activities immediately.
Yes, Medicare covers the cost of 35 TMS treatments for eligible clients. Contact our team to verify eligibility.
In most cases, yes. Your psychiatrist will review your current medication regimen during your initial consultation.
TMS has been studied in clinical settings and is generally considered safe when delivered by trained clinicians following appropriate screening. As with any medical treatment, client suitability and potential risks are assessed before treatment begins.
