rTMS: The Next Breakthrough in Mental Health Treatment

TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) is the umbrella term for any magnetic stimulation technique used on the brain, including single-pulse and paired-pulse forms that are mostly used for diagnosis and research. rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) refers specifically to repeated, patterned pulses delivered across multiple sessions, and it’s this form that’s used therapeutically for conditions like depression, OCD and addiction. In short, rTMS is the clinically applied type of TMS.

The protocol you’re given depends on your condition and how quickly you need relief:

• Standard high-frequency rTMS: delivered over the left side of the brain, most commonly used for depression
• Low-frequency rTMS: delivered over the right side, sometimes used for anxiety or OCD
• Deep TMS (dTMS): uses a specialised coil to reach deeper brain structures
• Theta burst stimulation (TBS): delivers pulses in short bursts, cutting session time down to a few minutes
• Accelerated rTMS: multiple sessions delivered in a single day over one to two weeks, rather than the traditional daily-for-weeks schedule

Your psychiatrist will recommend the protocol suited to your diagnosis and lifestyle.

rTMS is usually recommended when standard treatments like medication or therapy haven’t given enough relief. It’s most often used for treatment-resistant depression, but it’s also effective for OCD, PTSD, chronic pain and addiction. Because it targets the brain regions responsible for mood regulation directly, it can offer relief where other approaches have plateaued.

• Non-invasive, with no surgery, anaesthesia or needles involved
• No systemic side effects such as weight gain, drowsiness or sexual side effects, since it targets a localised brain region rather than circulating through your body like medication does
• No downtime, so you can walk in and out and resume your day
• FDA approved and backed by strong clinical evidence, particularly for treatment-resistant depression
• Works alongside therapy and medication rather than replacing them
• Painless, with most people describing just a tapping or tingling sensation on the scalp

• A detailed 90-minute first session with a psychologist and psychiatrist
• An assessment to confirm your diagnosis and check whether rTMS is suitable for you
• Motor threshold mapping, to calibrate the right stimulation intensity for your brain
• A personalised treatment plan, usually daily sessions over several weeks, or an accelerated schedule if that suits you better
• Ongoing progress tracking, with your plan adjusted as needed
• Follow-up support once your course ends, to help you stay well

When you visit BetterPlace for the first time, you will speak to our in-house clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, who will take a detailed case history and understand your chief complaints. The psychologist will then discuss your case with our psychiatrist, who will share a diagnosis and recommend the appropriate assessments and treatment plans.

Our preferred approach is for you to meet both because each treatment plan is a combination of psychotherapy and psychiatric services. Our goal is to have you recover faster, and stay well. However, you can meet just one of them too, if you wish to do so.

rTMS is most commonly used for treatment-resistant depression, but it’s also effective for anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and chronic pain. We’ll assess your specific needs to see if rTMS is a suitable option for you.

You sit in a comfortable chair while a technician places a small magnetic coil against your scalp, over the area being treated. Once the session starts, you’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation as pulses are delivered in short bursts with breaks in between. You’re awake and alert the whole time, and can read, listen to music or simply relax. Each session takes about 20 to 40 minutes, after which you can drive yourself home or go straight back to work.

Yes, rTMS is considered very safe. It’s approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA and NICE. Side effects are usually mild, such as slight scalp discomfort or a temporary headache after treatment.

rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) is generally safe, but it can cause mild, temporary side effects. The most common issues are mild scalp discomfort, tingling, or localised pain at the stimulation site during the session. Some people also experience brief, mild tension headaches or lightheadedness immediately after treatment. In extremely rare cases (roughly 1 in 10,000), it can cause seizures.

A typical rTMS session lasts about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on your individual treatment plan. There’s no downtime, so you can return to your day straight after.

You might feel a tapping or tingling sensation on your scalp during the session, but it’s generally well tolerated. We’ll check in with you regularly to ensure your comfort.

rTMS is generally very safe, and serious risks are rare. The most common effects are mild and temporary, such as scalp discomfort, tingling at the site of stimulation, or a short-lived headache after the session. In very rare cases (around 1 in 10,000), rTMS can trigger a seizure, which is why thorough pre-treatment screening is essential to rule out risk factors beforehand. Unlike medication, it doesn’t carry risks of weight gain, sexual side effects or dependency.

rTMS is more effective for people who have not responded well to medication. It works differently from medication and doesn’t have the same systemic side effects.

There isn’t one. Because rTMS doesn’t involve anaesthesia or sedation, you’re fully alert immediately after each session and can drive, work or go about your day as normal. Some people notice mild scalp tenderness or a slight headache for a few hours, but this settles on its own and needs no downtime.

rTMS works by gradually reshaping activity in the brain circuits involved in mood regulation, and that happens through repeated stimulation across multiple sessions, not from any single one. Stopping partway through means the brain hasn’t had enough repeated stimulation for those changes to properly take hold, so the benefit may not last or may not show up as strongly. Completing the full course your psychiatrist recommends gives you the best chance of a lasting result.

The BetterPlace clinic is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and 9:00 am – 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Friday

At BetterPlace, a single rTMS session costs between INR 3,000 and INR 5,000. The exact cost depends on your treatment schedule, the protocol recommended for you, and the package you choose. Your psychiatrist will confirm the full course cost after your initial assessment, once your treatment plan is finalised.