🧲🧠Stanford TMS Researchers treat depression by reversing brain signals traveling the wrong way

[LifeIsThePitts]

A new study led by Stanford Medicine researchers is the first to reveal how magnetic stimulation treats severe depression: by correcting the abnormal flow of brain signals.

med.stanford.edu/news/all-n...

Stanford is a leading research group in the world of TMS treatment for TRD and other mental health disorders. Their SAINT TMS protocol is briefly discussed in the article and is available at the clinic I go to, as well as regular TMS and Theta Burst TMS. I do Theta Burst.

This study just published on May 15, 2023 has FINALLY identified one way that TMS can immediately reverse depression symptoms in SEVERELY depressed people. Here's a excerpt from the article... this is AMAZING news for promoting the noninvasive treatment that TMS can provide for depression sufferers!!

"...Powerful magnetic pulses applied to the scalp to stimulate the brain can bring fast relief to many severely depressed patients for whom standard treatments have failed. Yet it’s been a mystery exactly how transcranial magnetic stimulation, as the treatment is known, changes the brain to dissipate depression. Now, research led by Stanford Medicine scientists has found that the treatment works by reversing the direction of abnormal brain signals.

The findings also suggest that backward streams of neural activity between key areas of the brain could be used as a biomarker to help diagnose depression.

“The leading hypothesis has been that TMS could change the flow of neural activity in the brain,” said Anish Mitra, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “But to be honest, I was pretty skeptical. I wanted to test it.”

Mitra had just the tool to do it. As a graduate student at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the lab of Mark Raichle, MD, he developed a mathematical tool to analyze functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI — commonly used to locate active areas in the brain. The new analysis used minute differences in timing between the activation of different areas to also reveal the direction of that activity.

In the new study, published May 15 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Mitra and Raichle teamed up with Nolan Williams, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, whose team has advanced the use of magneticstimulation, personalized to each patient’s brain anatomy, to treat profound depression. The FDA-cleared treatment, known as Stanford neuromodulation therapy, incorporates advanced imaging technologies to guide stimulation with high-dose patterns of magnetic pulses that can modify brain activity related to major depression. Compared with traditional TMS, which requires daily sessions over several weeks or months, SNT works on an accelerated timeline of 10 sessions each day for just five days."

Go to the article to read more about this awesome treatment option for us depression and anxiety warriors!!

[Agora1]

Thank you xx

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Agora1]

You're welcome. This treatment is the reason I'm still here. It was my last ditch effort at clinging to life. I was suicidal and wanted out after 2+ decades of fighting with no relief...but somehow I got myself to a Ketamine and TMS clinic via online inquiry while at work on a Saturday afternoon in January '22. I've forked over $10k+ for 2 Ketamine infusions and ongoing TMS treatment since then, but I'd give 10x that knowing I'd be where I am now vs then.

It's no joke that when/IF this treatment works for you, ITS A GAME CHANGER in every aspect of your life. I'd love for this noninvasive treatment to be the gateway treatment for any and every newly diagnosed depression patient. It's a machine plugged into the wall...

Theta Burst TMS treatment

[Agora1 in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

I had never heard about it until I came on the forum.

I'm so happy that you found smething that worked for you. I'm sure it

was worth it's weight in gold for you. Thanks for sharing xx

[Marysblue]

60 minutes did a story on this year or two ago , you can find it online. No one in my area has it yet. Last time I checked it was just LA and one or two other places.

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Marysblue]

I've been doing TMS treatment for depression anxiety and motivation since Feb '22. It's the key to my success and recovery. Nothing else has helped since I was in my late teens.

Unfortunately I must pay for my treatment 100% out of pocket. I've zeroed in my treatment plan and have tried multiple gaps between sessions but for me to maintain stability, I require a session approximately every 4 weeks. I'm only in the office about 15 mins and the actual treatment is about 5 mins total. I usually go on the way to work as it doesn't require recovery time or impedes your ability to function in any way. It's been a lifesaving treatment for me in every sense of the word.

TMS is becoming more widespread in the last few years. There multiple Ketamine and TMS clinics in Vegas where I live. It's still a fringe treatment option, but medicare and Medicaid cover this in most places from what I've heard. My company insurance doesn't.

[Marysblue]

You doing Saint, that's what I'm interested in trying?

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Marysblue]

No..I had great success with Theta Burst TMS. I have Saint protocol available to me if I'm interested in it, though.

[scansnap]

Very interesting research. It's good to see a review of some medical research on the forum.

P.S. I got my PhD at Washington University. The psychiatry department there is one of the best.

[Beater]

Thank goodness for some relief. I wonder if this can retransmit brain signals, could it also be helpful for chronic pain?