AUSTIN (KXAN) — A small study is digging into a new way to help people with treatment-resistant depression.
“This is very unique in this field,” said study author Sabrina Segal, Ph.D., research director at the Austin-based Family Care Center (FCC).
“A handful of studies have shown that this particular protocol is particularly helpful in treating anxiety and PTSD symptoms. However, such a surprising effect on symptoms of depression is something we never expected. “I didn't have it,” she said.
Dr. Chuck Weber, FCC's chief medical officer, has been using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for several years to help patients.
“TMS is a radical new technology that's been around since the '90s and was approved by the FDA in 2008, and it involves receiving a magnetic pulse to generate an electrical charge,” Dr. Weber said.
“This is a non-invasive approach to treating a wide range of mental conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and smoking sensations, without the use of drugs.”
Dr. Weber said he noticed impressive results by slightly altering TMS on both the left and right sides of the brain.
“What I've seen is response rates between 60% and up to 80% for people with depression, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD,” he says.
“Actually, I had been doing this particular protocol for about seven years, and I needed someone like Dr. Sabrina to bring that research and organize my thoughts into the world.”
Dr. Segal analyzes the collected data and The survey results were published online..
Overall, the study found that 66% of patients with major depressive disorder who participated in the study responded to the new treatment.
Dr. Weber said this approach is safe. “No pain, no discomfort. Sometimes I get a little headache. That happens in the first few sessions, but we go very slowly and slowly and use very safe protocols. “To make sure it's very comfortable for the patient and non-invasive.” ”
The next step is to conduct large-scale studies, but both doctors hope the modification will help patients with severe depression without medication.
Check with your health insurance to find out if TMS is covered by your care plan.
