A drug free method of treating depression is being conducted at 19 clinics around the country. The non-invasive treatment is TMS therapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a process that activates neurons by low amounts of electric currents that are directed at specific regions of the brain with rapidly changing magnetic fields. Its performed in clinical setting. A person receives multiple treatment that are about 40 minutes long from a system that is designed by Neuro Star.
Neuro Stars system was tested on two control groups. One group was a placebo group. The second group consisted of people who had major depression and all had tried multiple ant-depressants with little success treating their depression. Statistically speaking the second group had greater results compared to the placebo group. One of the ways results where measured was by using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Only about 5% didn't finish the test.
Out of ten thousand TMS therapy's performed the biggest side effect reported by patients was scalp pain during the treatment. This effect was less after the first week of therapy.
Out of the two groups tested the article only gave the amount of participants for the second group(164 patients). This troublesome to me because the tested groups should have been even in order to have a good example.
Over all this system is something I'll defiantly be watching for in the news. If neurons are being manipulated with out drugs to help depression I'm curious or even a little afraid of what could be next. It is also work that gives me hope for the use of less drugs to treat symptoms that may not be life threatening but still have an adverse effect on peoples lives. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124958.php
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This test seems like it might be a little skethchy. I guess if it is having good results and people are willing to do it for treatment more power to them. I think that I would have to pass if it were offered, because of its relatively new status. Also I think the scalp pain is kind of a bad side effect to have.
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