A Stanford University study of a new protocol for a new treatment for severe depression using transcranial magnetic stimulation, he showed a overwhelming success, resulting in remission for 79% of people in the double-blind study of 29 people.
This new treatment for depression has previously been used against other depressive cases, however new protocol is an individualized and non-invasive method, which has worked well in alleviating severe depression and providing lasting benefits for the patient, with their research being published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
“It works well, it works quickly and it is non-invasive. It could be a turning point. “
he has declared Nolan Williams, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, in a statement.
The new treatment protocol for depression is based on an already approved stimulation treatment, called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS).
During the iTBS course, magnetic pulses are sent to the brain region thought to be involved in depression every day for six weeks, however the treatment takes a long time and the results vary largely from case to case.
In an effort to improve therapy, a team of Stanford scientists led by Williams aimed to target the impulses more directly to the needs of each individual patient and to increase the number of impulses. This protocol delivers the pulses in a much shorter time frame, with 10 10-minute sessions, separated by 50-minute breaks, over five consecutive days.
The tests and findings of the new treatment for depression
29 patients were summoned to trial this new treatment for depression, who were then divided into two groups: those who received the new Stanford neuromodulation therapy (SNT) and those who received a sham treatment.
After just five days of treatment, 78.6% of participants who received SNT went into remission and completed several requirements to no longer be diagnosed as depressed. Of the 14 participants treated, 12 saw improvement in their symptoms in four weeks and 11 were characterized by FDA ratings as being in remission, while only two of the 15 patients in the sham group met the same criteria.
There have been some side effects, including temporary fatigue and headaches, but this would be a marked improvement on the current iTBS therapy if it resulted in larger sample sizes.
One patient said the treatment was a huge success for them, having been looking for a remedy for decades.
“In 1975, they didn’t have the drugs and understanding they have now. I was told I wasn’t trying hard enough. I have worked all these years, but at times it has been very difficult ”.
Tommy Van Brocklin, 60, said in a statement, however after the treatment, the 60-year-old patient saw tremendous improvement.
“The [terzo] next day, all of a sudden, it broke through. I felt much better, and he stayed with me. “
Van Brocklin said, further talking about how the treatment affected his life, the patient explained:
“Don’t procrastinate anymore. I sleep better. I have completely stopped drinking alcohol. I am walking my dog and I play the guitar again, for nothing but the pure joy of doing it. ”.
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