Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: An Alternative Depression Treatment - Mayo Clinic

Simon Kung, M.D., psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic, describes using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treating depression. A non-medication alternative.

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Science & Technology

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• Mayo Clinic
• Kung
• Depression
• TMS

[FeralGrandevil]

@TMSNewEngland What has the research indicated in regards to the size of the placebo effect and spontaneous remission?

[TMSNewEngland]

As with any medical procedure, not every treatment works for every patient. Some patients need additional stimulation than others, so longer treatment courses may be necessary.

However, TMS has been very effective for most patients who suffer from treatment resistant depression. Keep in mind that studies regarding TMS were controlled studies in which patients were not receiving any adjunctive treatments such a medications and psychotherapy. In practice, most patients do respond to TMS.

[muckstar23]

@lc08302 sucker, you paid 12k to have your brain scrambled. you couldnt pay me enough to

have someone do that to me. not a single change, you have no idea what they did to you,,,do you?

[MrQuetiapine]

In addition, when the researchers also analyzed the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial, "the largest antidepressant effectiveness trial ever conducted," they found that "the effectiveness of antidepressant therapies was probably even lower than the modest one reported...with an apparent progressively increasing dropout rate across each study phase.

[MrQuetiapine]

August 24, 2010 — A new review of 4 meta-analyses of efficacy trials submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that antidepressants are only "marginally efficacious" compared with placebo and "document profound publication bias that inflates their apparent efficacy."

[ontariocottager]

"the effectiveness of TMS is about the same as antidepressants, especially if the patient has tried one or two antidepressants and hasn't done too well with them" = TMS is barely more effective than a placebo. This guy doesn't tell you that if you do feel a little bit better after 6 weeks of daily TMS, you have to keep coming back week after week until the end of time (just like ECT).

[lc08302]

Might work for some. I tried it .6 weeks and $12,000 later not a single change

[blindhunt3r]

Thank you, Nikola Tesla.