According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20.9 million adults in the United States, or 9.5% of the population 18 and over, suffer from depression or a related mood disorder (1). As one of the most prevalent disorders in American society, it is imperative that researchers continue to develop ways to combat depression. Recently, the utilization of TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) on patients with depression proved to be effective. Over 25 studies on this matter have been conducted internationally, almost all containing results that report TMS improving adult depression (2).
In a study published by the AJP*, Gershon et al reported results in favor of TMS as a valid depression treatment. Their data portrayed an antidepressant effect using high-frequency rTMS, especially when directed towards the left prefrontal cortex (3). TMS is an appealing tool for the future because it is a relatively short (20-30 min), non-invasive procedure that can be performed on awake patients. To date, the most successful TMS depression treatments prove to be 20-minute procedures, everyday for several weeks (4). Another advantage to TMS is its accuracy, as the technology allows the targeting of very specific regions of the brain while leaving other areas unaffected.
Because TMS is a fairly new form of depression treatment, the long-term lasting effects are still unknown. We know for certain that procedures done correctly yield positive short-term results, but further research is necessary to determine if TMS continues to work after treatment ends. Everyone knows at least one person who has experienced depression, if one has not experienced it them self. No one would argue that research devoted to advancing treatments of depression is time well spent.
The concept of using TMS to treat depression is very interesting, and unlike any other method I've heard to treat the sickness before. I'm actually working in a lab right now that examines how to increase the efficacy of depression medications and one approach that is being studied involves 5HTP and serotonin reuptake. It's fascinating to read about an approach that operates at a less biochemical level (by that I mean an approach that does not specifically deal with increasing hormone production/decreases hormone reuptake).
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