Australian first for depression

Australia’s oldest hospital operating on its original site is now using revolutionary technology to treat clinical depression in what has been described as an Australian first for public hospitals.

Victorian Minister for Mental Health, Mary Wooldridge, recently launched the first Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinic at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.

The $600,000 cutting edge equipment in the new TMS Clinic uses a ground-breaking technique to manage treatment-resistant, or refractory, depression.

Due to pioneering medical research, TMS may help hundreds of Victorians suffering depression who have not responded to medical or psychological treatment.

TMS is a non-invasive treatment which works by using a magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in superficial areas of the brain. Because it is a non-invasive therapy that is carried out while the person is awake, TMS has important advantages over older therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

According to the Black Dog Institute, a leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, older people tend to under-report depressive symptoms and may not acknowledge being sad, down or depressed. 

“This could be due to age, shame and lack of understanding for the disorder or a belief in not talking about depression or admitting to not coping,” The Black Dog Institute website states.

In extreme cases, an older person may believe they have an incurable illness which can be a risk for suicide. 

Ms Wooldridge said the prevalence of treatment-resistant depression is significant, so providing a low cost, non-invasive and effective treatment is important in ensuring good patient outcomes.

The Alfred is reportedly the only publicly-funded provider of this new technology in Australia.

Ms Wooldridge also officially opened Alfred Health’s new mental health precinct, which includes the new St Kilda Road Clinic (community mental health) and the co-located Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.

The St Kilda Road Clinic provides a range of community based mental health services, including clinic-based case management and outreach services.