Innovative Depression Treatments
Many people with depression struggle to find an effective treatment for them. Some people experience a lack response to medications or experience uncontrollable adverse reactions.
The health benefits inherent to expanded treatment coverage are estimated to be substantial (table 2). The discounted value of these benefits is $399 billion for depression and $169 billion for anxiety disorders.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS utilizes an electric field to deliver short pulses of electric current to specific brain regions that are to be overactive in those suffering from depression. The treatment is non-invasive and doesn't require anesthesia. It's also extremely efficient and well-tolerated compared to antidepressant medication.
To receive TMS treatment the patient is seated in a chair reminiscent of a dentist and is awake. A trained technician places an instrument with a coil of magnetic material against the frontal part of the head. The coil is able to pulse quickly and one may hear a click or feel a tapping sensation on the scalp. Each magnetic pulse is referred to as"a "pulse" and the frequency of the pulses (measured in hertz, or Hz) can range from low (1 pulse per second) to high (10 pulses per second).
The treatment is not painful however the magnetic field does affect the cells that are located in the outer layer. It depolarizes cortical neurons and the transynaptic effect can affect the brain's deeper regions that are involved in mood. For instance, higher frequency TMS in the left DLPFC can boost mesolimbic neuron activity that modulate emotional responses.
Certain insurance plans provide TMS as an alternative to psychiatric medication. It is recommended to check with your insurance provider to see what coverage your plan provides.
In clinical trials, TMS produced significant and sustained improvements in depression symptoms versus the placebo. Patients can receive up to 30 TMS sessions over the period of just a few weeks. Patients who suffer from more severe depression might require more time to complete their treatment.
Certain of the latest TMS treatments use a lower frequency pulse, which is less likely to cause side-effects such as seizures. While the method is still in its early stages, it is an effective treatment alternative for patients who do not respond to antidepressants or psychotherapy.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT helps to rebalance the brain's natural chemical balance. It is among the most safe and effective treatments for depression. It can be used to treat other mental health conditions like schizophrenia.
The ECT procedure is performed by medical professionals and takes place in a separate room at the hospital, or an outpatient treatment centre. Prior to the procedure, a general anaesthetic will be administered to ensure that you don't feel any discomfort. The ECT team will use monitoring equipment to gauge your heart rate, blood-pressure and oxygen levels as well as brain waves. You will be given a muscle relaxant and a mouthguard to safeguard your teeth. Two discs made of metal (bilateral ECT) or a single disc (unilateral ECT) are placed on your head on either side or in the middle of your forehead. The anaesthetist will then give you a shot of medication that induces sleep.
You will awake in the ECT room, and a member of the ECT team will talk to you and answer any questions you may have. You will be asked to complete a consent form prior to you receive the treatment. It may be difficult to take in all the information when you're informed about ECT. It is best to have a family member or friend with you. You should be given at least 24 hours before being forced to make a choice about the treatment.
During the procedure, you may experience brief fits or seizures lasting between 40 seconds and 2 min. The ECT doctor will adjust the number of electric pulses you receive depending on the response you show. You may experience short sessions of ECT typically 6-12 sessions, two times a week.
It is not clear what exactly ECT functions. It appears to trigger the release of chemicals that aid brain cells to communicate. It also appears to alter how parts of your brain develop.
ECT is effective in treating severe depressions, suicidal feelings as well as catatonia secondary depression and other psychiatric conditions. Research has shown that approximately half of those who receive ECT improve and remain well for a period of one year or longer. It is especially beneficial for those who have not been able to respond to medications or other psychosocial treatments.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure that involves the placement of electrodes into the brain. The electrodes are attached to small devices that transmit electric pulses into the area of your brain that regulates symptoms. The pulses can help relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of living. DBS can treat many conditions, including movement disorders like Parkinson's or essential tremors and mental disorders like depression and obsessional-compulsive condition. It can also help reduce seizures in people suffering from epilepsy. It is also able to treat the severe pain that comes from nerve and brain conditions.
DBS is an option to be combined with ECT or other treatments for TRD. It is important to keep in mind that not all patients will benefit from DBS. Some patients don't experience any improvement in their symptoms, while some may even experience a worsening symptoms of depression. This is likely due to a mix of factors, including patient-related factors like personality traits or psychiatric co-morbidity, and clinical factors, such as incorrect diagnosis or inadequate DBS treatment.
Researchers employed a machine-learning algorithm to classify the changes in LFPs observed during intraoperative DBS. The results indicated that the reduction in depression symptoms was associated with changes in beta power. These findings suggest that DBS can be used as a predictor of antidepressant effects. However further research is required to test this hypothesis.
DBS is a well-known treatment for movement disorders and it is also being used to treat a growing number disorders of the psyche. However, it is not widely recognized as a treatment for depression. The FDA has approved DBS to decrease seizures in people suffering from difficult-to-treat epilepsy. Studies are currently being conducted to determine if DBS is effective in treating depression.
You should discuss the DBS procedure with a neurologist before you undergo it. Your neurologist examines you and recommends the most appropriate treatment for you. He or she will also advise you of the potential risks and benefits of DBS. Additionally you should inquire about any tests or preparations you may need before the procedure. You will probably need an imaging test, blood test or other tests prior to the procedure.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common kinds of psychotherapy and has been proven efficient in a variety of different outcome studies. It is usually used as an independent treatment, but it may be combined with medications in certain instances. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that assists you to change negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to depression. It is based upon the theory that the way you think about and respond to situations is more important than the actual situation. It is a highly active form of psychotherapy that emphasizes solving problems, and discovering and changing dysfunctional thinking patterns.
The goal of CBT is to help you become your own therapy by helping you understand and change the way you think and behave. It incorporates exercises and homework in sessions and out of sessions to help you learn new abilities. CBT focuses on the present issues and problems and not on past experiences or root causes. It is necessary to know some details about your life experience to be able to deal with and comprehend issues that are currently affecting you.
CBT is a short-term therapy that typically lasts 6 to 20 sessions. It is an empirically grounded therapy, and its duration is guided by whether or not you are meeting the goals established at the start of therapy. It is a highly active and demanding therapy that requires a high level of commitment and effort from you.
There are many 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 emotions as well as dialectical behavior therapy, that is designed to deal with self-injury and suicidal thinking and interpersonal psychotherapy, that focuses on resolving relationship problems that are contributing to your depression.
There are numerous exciting new treatments that could be game-changing for those suffering from depression. effective depression treatment are already available for use, like deep brain stimulation, which involves surgeons implant electrodes in your brain, which send out harmless zaps to alter the electrical activity the cause of your symptoms. Other advancements are being studied, including the development of a personalized medication for depression. This could eliminate the need for trial and error to discover the best treatment for you.