Magnetic Brain Stimulation: New Technique for Clinical Depression Treatment

Don´t be surprised if you go to your psychiatrist and he puts on your head a helmet wired to an electrical machine. He may be using a new technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

According to Marty Graham (www.wired.com): "Transcranial magnetic stimulation, a technique for treating clinical depression, uses a device placed on a patient's head that delivers a pulse to the gray matter. Although it still needs FDA approval the device could be marketed as soon as the end of the year."

Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Treatment of depression varies broadly among individuals. Various types and combinations of treatments may have to be tried. There are two primary modes of treatment, typically used in conjunction: medication and psychotherapy.

The new TMS is a noninvasive method to excite neurons in the brain. The excitation is caused by weak electric currents induced in the tissue by rapidly changing magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction). This way, brain activity can be triggered or modulated without the need for surgery or external electrodes. (wikipedia.com)

"While it is still investigational, over 30 studies have been completed evaluating the efficacy of TMS in the treatment of depression. Eight meta-analyses evaluating TMS in depression have been published. A recent meta-analysis has reviewed 33 studies of TMS in depression and have concluded that TMS is effective in the treatment of depression." (Ebmeier and Hermann. 2006. "Factors Modifying the Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Depression: A Review". Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 67(12): 1870.)

Shirlene Sampson, an assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, stated that "It's much less invasive -- patients can go home or go back to work afterwards. And patients aren't exposed to social risk with their insurance companies and employers.