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Innovative Depression Treatments Many people suffering from depression find it difficult to find a treatment they can tolerate. Some suffer from a lack of response to medication or have inexplicably negative side effects. The health benefits inherent to scaled-up effective treatment coverage are estimated to be substantial (table 2). The discounted value of these benefits is $399 billion for depression and $169 billion for anxiety disorders. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) TMS uses magnetic fields to deliver short pulses of electric current to certain brain areas that appear to be overactive in those suffering from depression. The treatment is non-invasive and doesn't require anesthesia. It is also extremely efficient and well-tolerated when compared to antidepressant medications. For TMS treatment, a person sits in a dentist-like chair and is awake. A trained technician places a small device with a magnetic coil against the front of the head. The coil pulses quickly and the person could hear a sound of clicking or feel tapping sensations on the scalp. Each magnetic pulse (measured in hertz or Hz) is referred to as a “pulse(also known as a “pulse”). The frequency of the pulses can range from low (1 pulse every second) to high (10 per second). The treatment isn't painful, however the magnetic field does affect the cells in the outer layer. It depolarizes cortical cells and the transynaptic effect may affect brain regions deeper that are involved in mood. For instance, higher-frequency TMS over the left DLPFC can stimulate mesolimbic neurons that regulate emotional responses. Certain insurance plans cover TMS as an adjunct to psychiatric medication. You should check with your insurance provider to determine what you're covered under your plan. In clinical trials, TMS showed significant and continuous improvements in depression symptoms when compared with placebo. In the TMS treatment program, a patient may undergo up to 30 sessions over a couple of weeks. Patients suffering from severe depression may require a longer duration of treatment. Some newer treatments of TMS utilize a lower frequency pulse that is less likely to cause adverse reactions like seizures. Although the procedure is being considered a research project but it's a promising therapy for individuals who don't respond to psychotherapy or antidepressants. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) ECT helps to rebalance the brain's natural chemical balance. It is among the safest and most effective treatments for depression. It can also be used to treat other mental health conditions like schizophrenia. The ECT procedure is performed in a hospital or outpatient treatment center. It is performed by medical experts. Prior to the procedure the general anaesthetic will be administered to ensure you do not feel any discomfort. The ECT team will utilize equipment to monitor your heart rate, blood-pressure and oxygen levels, as well as brain waves. You will be given a muscle relaxant that will keep you relaxed and a mouthguard to guard your teeth. Two discs of metal (bilateral ECT) or one disc (unilateral ECT) are placed on your head one on each side or in the middle of your forehead. The anaesthetist then gives you an injection of medication that puts you to sleep. You will be awakened in the ECT room. A member of the ECT staff will answer any questions you have. You will be asked to complete a consent form prior to you have the treatment. It may be difficult to absorb all the information you are given information about ECT. It is best to have a relative or friend with you. You must be given at least 24 hours to consider the treatment prior to having to decide. During the procedure, you may be able to experience brief seizures or fits lasting between 40 seconds to two minutes. The ECT doctor will alter the frequency of your electric pulses depending on how you respond. It is likely that you will have short sessions of ECT, usually 6-12 sessions, two times a week. There is no one theory of how ECT operates, but it seems to trigger the release of certain chemicals that help your brain cells communicate with each and each other. It also seems to alter the way that parts of your brain develop. ECT is effective in treating severe depressions, suicidal feeling and catatonia secondary depression as well as other psychiatric issues. Research shows that half of people who receive ECT get better and stay healthy for a year or more. It is particularly beneficial for those who haven't been able to respond to medications or other psychosocial treatment. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure that involves the placement of electrodes into the brain. The electrodes are connected to a small neurostimulator that sends electric pulses to the region of the brain that controls your symptoms. The pulses could help reduce your symptoms and increase your quality of life. DBS can treat many conditions including movement disorders such as essential tremor or Parkinson's, as well as mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. It can also reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. It can also be used to treat pain caused by nerve and brain conditions. DBS is an option to be combined with ECT or other treatments for TRD. It is important to remember that not all patients will benefit from DBS. Certain patients may not see any improvement in their symptoms while others may experience a worsening of depression. This is likely due to a mix of factors, including factors related to the patient, such as personality traits or psychiatric comorbidity, and clinical factors, such as incorrect diagnosis or inadequate DBS targeting. alternative depression treatment employed a machine-learning algorithm to classify the changes in LFPs that were recorded during intraoperative DBS. The results indicated that a decrease in depression symptoms was associated with changes in beta power. These results suggest that DBS can be used to predict the effects of antidepressants. However more research is needed to confirm this theory. While DBS is an established treatment for movement disorders and a growing array of psychiatric disorders however, it isn't widely known as an effective depression treatment. The FDA has approved DBS for reducing seizures in some patients suffering from hard-to-treat epilepsy, and studies are in progress to determine if DBS can be used to treat depression. You should discuss the DBS procedure with a neurologist prior to undergoing it. Your neurologist will examine you and recommend the most appropriate treatment option for you. He or she will also inform you of the potential risks and benefits associated with DBS. In addition you should inquire about any tests or preparations that you may need before the procedure. It is likely that you will require an imaging test, blood test or other tests prior to the procedure. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most popular types of psychotherapy that has been found to be efficient in a variety of different outcomes studies. It is usually utilized as an alternative treatment, but it may be combined with medication in some cases. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that helps you overcome negative beliefs and behaviors that are contributing to your depression. It is based upon the notion that the way you think about and react to situations is more important than the situation itself. It is a highly active type of psychotherapy and emphasizes solving problems and identifying and changing maladaptive thinking patterns. CBT's goal is to assist you in becoming your own therapist by helping you to understand and change the ways you think and behave. It utilizes exercises and at-home sessions and out of session to teach new techniques. CBT is focused on current issues and problems, not previous experiences and their root causes. However, it requires some knowledge about your history to understand and address problems in the present. CBT is typically an in-depth treatment that lasts between 6 to 20 sessions. It is an empirically-based therapy, and its duration is determined by whether or not you meet the goals you established at the beginning of therapy. It is an active and demanding therapy that demands an intense level of commitment and effort from you. Other cognitive behavioral treatments could be beneficial for you. These include acceptance and commitment therapy that helps you engage in positive behavior even when you are struggling with negative thoughts or emotions; dialectical behavior therapy, which deals with suicidal thoughts and self-injury. Also, interpersonal psychotherapy which is aimed to address relationship issues that can be a contributing factor to depression. There are many exciting new treatments that could offer a game-changing solution for those suffering from depression. Some treatments are already available. For instance, deep brain stimulation. A surgeon implants electrodes into your brain to send zaps that alter the electrical activity that triggers your symptoms. Other advancements are being studied, including personalized medication for depression. This could eliminate the need to trial and error to find what works for you.