TMS Malta

TMS Malta and Gozo is a private neuromodulation clinic offering transcranial magnetic stimulation, usually shortened to TMS, from DaVinci Hospital in Birkirkara. The clinic introduced the technology to the islands in 2016 and treats patients from Malta and Gozo. It works alongside psychology, lifestyle support and medication rather than as a stand-alone service, and the team is led by Dr Xuereb.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the clinic appears under psychologists in Malta and private clinics in Malta. This page explains what the clinic offers and how to reach it. It does not give medical advice, and any decision about treatment is one for the clinic's own clinicians and your regular doctor.

What TMS is

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is an outpatient procedure in which a coil placed against the scalp delivers brief, focused magnetic pulses to a chosen area of the brain. The aim is to encourage or dampen the activity of nerve cells in that area. The patient stays awake and alert throughout, with no anaesthetic, and a session can last from a few minutes upwards depending on the protocol used. Patients can return to their usual routine straight after a session.

The science is covered in detail on the clinic's website, from how neurons, synapses and neurotransmitters work to the principle of electromagnetic induction that allows the coil to act on nerve cells. If you like to understand a treatment before you attend, that material is a good place to read before your first appointment.

Conditions the clinic works with

The clinic offers TMS for a long list of conditions. The most common are depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and migraine. It also works with fibromyalgia, ADHD, chronic pain, eating disorders, low self-esteem, personality disorders, early-stage dementia and recovery after stroke, and with people seeking help to cut down on cocaine, cannabis or alcohol use.

Whether TMS is suitable for any individual is decided at assessment, not from a website. Psychology scales are used at the first consultation to judge this. For anyone in crisis, the clinic runs a free round-the-clock crisis consultation line, and in a medical emergency you should contact the local emergency services directly. The VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form is not an emergency route.

The four pillar approach

The clinic's method rests on four elements used in various combinations: lifestyle changes, psychological therapy, medication and TMS. The idea is that the elements support one another, so TMS can add to treatment a patient already has, or in some cases replace parts of it, depending on the clinical picture. The team keeps in contact with TMS specialists abroad and updates its protocols, which target particular brain areas linked to the symptoms being treated.

This integrated approach appeals to patients who prefer not to rely on medication alone, or whose medication has brought side effects they would rather avoid. Others simply want a non-invasive option. Those preferences are respected, and the team listens before recommending anything.

What to expect, step by step

The pathway has three steps. First comes an initial consultation with clinic staff using psychology scales. If TMS looks appropriate, the team assesses which protocol fits. Second, once treatment is prescribed, you are talked through the procedure, shown round the clinic and booked in for your first session, with the four pillars outlined too. Third, sessions begin, with trained staff monitoring you throughout.

During a session you can watch relaxation videos or read. Some patients take part in cognitive exercises or symptom tests at the same time, and the clinic uses video cues alongside a special protocol for people reducing alcohol or drug use. How long and how often you attend varies by protocol and condition, so the clinic does not publish a fixed course length. Prices are not published either, so ask when you enquire.

The clinic and how to find it

The clinic is at DaVinci Hospital on Triq Kanonku Karm Pirotta in Birkirkara, a central town on the main road network between Valletta and the north. The treatment room is a calm, purple-walled space with a reclining chair and the TMS equipment beside it. Birkirkara is easy to reach by road, and our Valletta guide helps if you are combining an appointment with time in the capital.

People moving to Malta can use the clinic as part of their local healthcare picture, and our Malta relocation guide covers settling in more widely. Visitors travelling in for treatment will find flight options in our guide to flights to Malta and areas to stay in our where to stay in Malta guide. The guide to Malta's weather by month helps with timing. The clinic serves both Malta and Gozo; read about the sister island in our Gozo guide.

To get in touch, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the clinic.