The service is intended for individuals with moderate to severe treatment-resistant depression.

Treatment-resistant depression is defined as a condition in which an individual has received treatment with at least two antidepressant medications from different drug classes, for a minimum of six weeks at therapeutic doses, without sufficient clinical response.

Referrals to the center are made by psychiatrists or family practitioners. An evaluation by a psychiatrist at the Brain Stimulation Center is always required prior to initiating TMS treatment.

Patients pay the normal service fee for health centers.

TMS is an abbreviation for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a treatment that uses magnetic stimulation of the brain.

TMS treatment does not require anesthesia, sedation, or surgery. The patient remains awake during the procedure and can leave immediately afterward.

TMS targets a specific area of the brain and does not directly affect other organ systems.

TMS treatment is delivered as a series of sessions and requires patients to attend treatment every weekday for four to six weeks.

At the Brain Stimulation Center, treatment is provided by healthcare professionals who have received specialized training in the use of TMS equipment.

Side effects of TMS treatment are generally few and mild, although more serious side effects are known to occur. As treatment progresses, side effects are likely to lessen.

Most common side effects:

• Headache

• Discomfort of the scalp at the treatment site

• Tingling, muscle contractions, or twitching in the facial muscles (only during treatment)

Rare but known side effects:

• Seizures

• Mania, particularly in individuals with bipolar disorder

• Hearing impairment if hearing protection is not used

Consult a physician or nurse if any of the following apply to you:

• You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy

• You are taking medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins, or dietary supplements

• You have a history of seizures or a family history of epilepsy

• You have implanted devices or objects (see below)

Due to the strong magnetic field, this treatment is not recommended for individuals who have implanted objects or devices that are affected by magnetism.

Absolute contraindications:

• Any type of metal implants or magnetized objects in the head or neck

Potential contraindications:

• Any implanted magnetized devices or objects

• Bullets or bullet fragments

• Other metal devices or implanted objects elsewhere in the body

• Director of medicine: Dagur Bjarnason psychiatrist

• Director of nursing: Jón Gauti Jónsson