Therapy Assisted rTMS- New Treatment For OCD

What does treatment look like?

The treatment for OCD is similar to any other rTMS treatment with some additional modifications. The OCD treatment makes use of a specialized coil that reaches deeper brain structures and neural circuits involved with OCD. The treatment itself is roughly 18 minutes each day for 6 weeks. For the rTMS to be beneficial one’s OCD needs to be triggered before the rTMS session. This is because the neural circuit involved with OCD must be firing and active when the rTMS delivers its inhibitory signal. Pairing the brain with behavioural activation and an inhibitory signal helps reduce the connections between areas of the brain associated with the high anxiety of OCD.

Trigger my OCD before treatment?! Sounds scary!

Yes! Anxiety can be scary! Patients must be in a slightly anxious state for treatment to be effective. However, the OCD symptoms are triggered safely and therapeutically by a counsellor specifically trained in treating patients with OCD. Exposure to stimuli that trigger OCD symptoms is also done hierarchically (slowly triggering anxiety until the desired level is reached). The same counsellor is with you every step of the way.

Working with a counsellor (therapy-supported rTMS)

To help support patients a counsellor and psychiatrist will conduct an assessment before the treatment begins. This will determine what triggers the OCD and how to move in a safe and manageable way. The patient will also meet with the same counsellor once per week to assess progress, answer questions and provide supportive psychotherapy. The counsellor is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically designed to help treat OCD. The counsellor will also have training and experience in what is referred to as Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). This is the gold standard for treating OCD and combines CBT with exposure therapy. You will also meet regularly with a psychiatrist for consultation and follow-ups.

How can I learn more?

Anyone interested in pursuing treatment or gathering more information for someone they know can use the contact page of my website to reach out.