TMS for OCD Treatment
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. People with OCD experience unwanted and repetitive thoughts, feelings or urges (known as obsessions) that lead them to perform certain actions over and over again (known as compulsions).
These compulsive behaviours, such as constant cleaning, checking or organising, can take up a lot of time and interfere with daily life, work and social relationships.
Who Is Affected by OCD?
OCD is estimated to affect around 1.1% of the UK population (MentalHealth.org.uk).
That’s about 12 in every 1,000 people. The true number may be even higher, as many people live with OCD without seeking help.
What are the symptoms of OCD
OCD can have an assortment of symptoms ranging from physiological to mental. These shift from patient to patient. People with OCD may have manifestations or fixations, impulses, or both. Also, Fixations are rehashed contemplations, inclinations, or mental pictures that cause anxiety.
Obsessions
Obsessions are repetitive and tenacious contemplations, driving forces, or pictures that reason troubling feelings, for example, uneasiness or nauseate. Numerous individuals with OCD perceive that the musings, driving forces, or pictures are a result of their brain and are unnecessary or outlandish. However, these intrusive thoughts can’t be settled by rationale or thinking. A great many people with OCD attempt to disregard or smother such obsessions or counterbalance them with some other idea or activity.
Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive practices or mental acts that an individual feels headed to perform in light of an obsession. The practices are planned for forestalling or lessening trouble or a dreaded circumstance. In the most extreme cases, a consistent reiteration of customs may fill the day, making an ordinary routine unimaginable. Also, aggravating the anguish these ceremonies cause is the knowledge that the impulses are irrational.
Some examples of compulsions:
- Checking
- Repeating
- Cleaning
- Ordering and arranging
- Mental Compulsions
TMS Treatment for OCD
Are you or someone you know struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that may help reduce OCD symptoms by gently stimulating specific areas of the brain involved in the condition.
How Does TMS Work for OCD?
TMS uses magnetic fields, delivered through a coil placed on the head, to target key areas of the brain linked to OCD. These include:
- The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)
- The supplementary motor area (SMA)
These brain regions are involved in how we process thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. In people with OCD, these areas can become overactive or imbalanced. TMS aims to help “reset” this activity, reducing intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and anxiety.
Encouraging Long-Term Change Through Neuroplasticity
TMS works by encouraging neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. Over time, this can lead to long-lasting changes in brain function, even after the treatment has finished. Many people experience ongoing relief from OCD symptoms well beyond their course of TMS.
Benefits of TMS for OCD
Non-invasive and drug-free: No surgery or anaesthetic. TMS uses gentle magnetic pulses aimed at the brain.
Few side effects: Most people notice none. Some may feel mild scalp discomfort or a brief headache.
Proven results: TMS often helps when medication or therapy has not worked. At The rTMS Centre, 8 in 10 OCD patients see improvement.
Works with other treatments: Use TMS alone or with CBT and medication for better results.
Better quality of life: As symptoms improve, many people enjoy better mood, stronger relationships, and more daily ease.
Personalised Treatment
At The rTMS Centre, every plan is built around the patient. We use brain scans (qEEG) to spot areas that are overactive or underactive. This helps us target treatment where it works best.
Check Your Eligibility
Overall, TMS treatment for OCD works by targeting specific brain regions involved in the disorder and modulating neural activity to alleviate symptoms. While individual responses to TMS may vary, many individuals with OCD experience significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life with this non-invasive treatment approach.
You can commence your eligibility process by adhering to our three-step treatment method outlined here.
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