Innovative Depression Treatments
Many people with depression have a difficult time finding a treatment that works for them. Some sufferers have a low response to medication or have intolerable adverse effects.
Table 2 demonstrates that the intrinsic health benefits of a more effective coverage are huge. The discounted value for depression is $399 billion and for anxiety disorders, $169 billion.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS uses magnetic fields to deliver brief pulses of electric current to certain brain areas that are overactive in patients suffering from depression. The treatment is non-invasive, and does not require any anesthesia. It is also highly efficient and well-tolerated in comparison to antidepressant medication.
A person receives TMS by sitting in a similar chair to a dentist's chair. A trained technician places an instrument with an electromagnetic coil against the frontal portion of the head. The coil's pulses are quick, and a person may hear a clicking sound or feel a tingling sensation on the scalp. Each magnetic pulse (measured in hertz or Hz) is called a “pulse(also known as a "pulse"). The frequency of pulses can range from low (1 pulse every second) to high (10 per second).
The treatment is not painful however the magnetic field does affect the cells of the outer layer. It depolarizes the cortical neurons and the transynaptic effect may affect brain regions deeper that are involved in mood. For instance, higher-frequency TMS in the left DLPFC can stimulate mesolimbic neurons that modulate emotional responses.
TMS can be used as an adjunct to psychiatric drugs, and some insurance plans cover the treatment. It is essential to consult your insurance company to find out what benefits your specific plan covers.
In clinical studies, TMS showed significant and long-lasting improvements in depression symptoms when compared with a placebo. In I Am Psychiatry can undergo up to 30 sessions over the course of a few weeks. Patients with more severe depression may need a longer treatment course.
Some of the newer TMS treatments use the use of a lower frequency pulse which is less likely to trigger adverse effects like seizures. Although the procedure is still in the early stages of development however, it's an alternative for patients who are not responding to psychotherapy or antidepressants.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
The brain's natural chemicals are rebalanced with ECT. It is one of most effective and safest treatments for depression. It can also be used in other mental health issues like schizophrenia.
The ECT procedure is performed by medical professionals and occurs in a specific suite within the hospital, or an outpatient treatment centre. Before the procedure the general anaesthetic will be administered to ensure that there is no discomfort. The ECT team will connect monitoring equipment to keep track of your heart rate oxygen levels, blood pressure and brain waves. You will receive a muscle relaxant that will keep you relaxed and a mouth guard to safeguard your teeth. Two metal discs are positioned on the head, one on each side or on your forehead. The anaesthetist will then inject you with a drug to induce sleep.
You will be awakened in the ECT room. A member of the ECT staff will answer any questions you have. Before you are treated you will be required to fill out an authorization form. It may be difficult to absorb all the information when you're told about ECT. It is best to bring a relative or a friend with you. It is recommended that you wait at least 24 hours before you are forced to make a decision regarding the treatment.
During the procedure, you will experience brief seizures or fits lasting between 40 seconds to 2 minutes. The ECT doctor will adjust the amount of electric pulses you get according to your response. You will probably have short courses of ECT generally 6-12 sessions, twice a week.
It isn't clear how ECT functions. However, it appears to trigger the release certain chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate. It also appears to alter the way certain parts of your brain develop.
ECT is very effective in treating severe depression, suicidal ideas, catatonia secondary to depression and other psychiatric disorders. Research has shown that approximately half of those who receive ECT improve and remain healthy for up to one year or more. It is especially helpful for those who have not responded to medication and other psychosocial treatments.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes into the brain. The electrodes are connected to a tiny neurostimulator that delivers electric pulses to the area of the brain that regulates your symptoms. The pulses can help relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. DBS can treat many conditions such as movement disorders like Parkinson's or essential tremors and mental health conditions like depression and obsessional-compulsive condition. It also helps reduce seizures in people suffering from epilepsy. It is also used to treat severe pain caused by brain and nerve conditions.
DBS is an option that can be combined with ECT or other treatments for TRD. However it is important to remember that not all patients benefit from DBS. Certain patients may not see any improvement in symptoms, while others may experience a worsening of depression. This non-response may be caused by a combination factors including patient-related ones, like personality traits, or psychiatric co-morbidity, as well as clinical factors such as an inaccurate diagnosis or a suboptimal DBS target.
Researchers utilized a machine learning algorithm to classify changes in LFPs recorded during intraoperative DBS. The results indicated that changes in beta power were related to the reduction of symptoms of depression. These results suggest that DBS can be used to predict antidepressant effects. This theory needs to be confirmed by further research.
While DBS is an established treatment for movement disorders and a growing number of psychiatric conditions however, it isn't widely recognized as a successful treatment for depression. The FDA has approved DBS to decrease seizures in some patients suffering from hard-to-treat epilepsy, and studies are in progress to determine if DBS can be used to treat depression.
It is recommended to discuss the DBS procedure with a neurologist before undergoing it. Your neurologist will examine you and suggest the best treatment option for you. He or she will also inform you about the potential risks and benefits associated with DBS. You should also inquire about any preparations or tests you may need to do prior to the procedure. You may require an imaging test, blood test or other tests prior to the procedure.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven to be effective through numerous outcomes studies. It is usually utilized as a treatment on its own however it can be combined with medication in some cases. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps you modify negative thoughts and behaviors contributing to depression. It is based on the idea that how you see and react to situations is more significant than the issue itself. It is an extremely active form of psychotherapy that is focused on problem-solving and discovering and changing dysfunctional thinking patterns.
The aim of CBT therapy is to assist you to become your own therapy. It accomplishes this by helping you alter your thinking and behave. It uses exercises and homework in sessions and out of sessions to teach you new techniques. CBT is focused on current issues and problems, not past experiences and their root causes. It is necessary to know some details about your past in order to be able to address and comprehend issues in the present.
CBT is a fairly short-term therapy that typically lasts 6-20 sessions. It is an empirically based therapy and its duration is determined by whether you reach the goals established at the beginning of therapy. It is an intensive and demanding therapy that demands the highest level of commitment and hard work from you.
There are a myriad of other cognitive behavioral therapies that could be beneficial for you, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, which trains you to be positive and engaging in positive behavior even when you have negative thoughts or feelings and dialectical behavior therapy designed to tackle self-injury and suicidal thoughts that are persistent as well as interpersonal psychotherapy which is aimed at resolving relationship problems that are contributing to depression.
There are a variety of exciting new treatments that could bring revolutionary results for people suffering from depression. Certain treatments are available. For example, deep brain stimulation. A surgeon inserts electrodes into your brain to send painless impulses that alter the electric activity that triggers your symptoms. However, many other advancements are still in the research stage, such as personalized medicine for depression that may be able to eliminate the trial and error process of determining what works best for you.