Page 47 - Tropic Magazine Issue 19

TROPIC • HEALTH

Dealing with
depression

MENTAL HEALTH
Words Renee Cluff
A new treatment for depression recently
introduced to Ramsay Health Care’s The Dr Jens Gaarslev
Cairns Clinic is proving just as effective
as medication. Repetitive transcranial
magnetic stimulation (rTMS) involves fully conscious throughout the procedure. There is emerging evidence the
the stimulation of the nerve cells in the The results are promising to say the least. treatment can also be used for people
brain through magnetic fields, which So far, The Cairns Clinic has treated 10 suffering with obsessive compulsive
target pathways that control emotional patients, and while it’s a small cohort, disorder (OCD) and research is
thinking, feelings and mood. “We’re there’s been a 100% success rate. “It’s at underway into its effectiveness for other
targeting a part of the brain that gives least as effective as anti-depressants,” possible conditions, including auditory
us access,” said The Cairns Clinic said Dr Gaarslev. “So, for people who hallucinations, anxiety, symptoms of
Psychiatrist Dr Jens Gaarslev. “We know have not responded to sufficient doses post-traumatic stress disorder and
people who have depression have less and time on anti-depressants, this is substance abuse disorders.
activity in that area.” good for them. Studies show 50% will Patients are admitted while the
The treatment involves 20-30 sessions reach recovery and about 80% per cent treatment is occurring, with the hospital
of rTMS over a six-week period, or five will reach a reduction in their depressive stay covered by private health insurance.
sessions per week. Each time, the patient’s symptoms. There will be a chance of
brain receives 3,000 magnetic pulses. people relapsing but if the patient can
Unlike other treatments, rTMS does not tolerate an anti-depressant it’s likely MORE: thecairnsclinic.com.au
require anaesthesia or sedation so they’re they will remain in recovery.”

Brotherly support

It’s almost impossible to believe, but the scary
truth is that every 20 minutes, a Queenslander is
diagnosed with cancer. That rate of diagnosis requires
a massive amount of support, and the Cancer Council
is the state’s leading, non-government organisation
supporting the Queensland community with cancer
care. But they can’t do it without receiving support of
their own. That’s where organisations like Brothers
Leagues Club comes in with funding for the Cancer Leagues Club,” a Cancer Council spokesperson said.
Council’s Cairns Transport to Treatment Service. In In another major demonstration of generous support,
2018, the service supported 2916 patients travelling a Brothers has now funded the purchase of a second
total of 4,254 trips to their healthcare appointments. vehicle to service the Cairns community.
This was all made possible due to the funding from
Brothers. “We simply could not have provided this MORE: brotherscairns.com.au
service without the generous support of Brothers

47 • tropicnow.com.au